DROUIN plays host to Morwell this week in its most vital match of the year.

Put simply, the Hawks must beat Morwell if they hope to keep alive their minuscule hope of playing finals football.

The importance of the clash is that Morwell, in fifth position, is the team most likely to be displaced if one of the bottom four is to force their way into the top five.

Should Morwell win, it will jump four games and percentage clear of Drouin and effectively that will be ‘season over’ for the Hawks, if it isn’t already.

Morwell will be wary of Drouin as it suffered a one-point shock loss to the Hawks in round two.

The midfield match up between Daniel Barrand, Matt Hedley, Todd Cook and Sam Proctor against Tigers Michael P. Duncan, Jeff Ryan, Sam Mills and Joel Soutar will have a big say in the result.

Regular Tiger centreman Adam Bailey (overseas) will miss this week, as well as the next two rounds.

If the Tiger midfield controls play then they will win because they appear to have the far more firepower, led by Ryan Allen, who is in top form after seven goals last week, and Nathan Scurrah with the versatile Lachlan Dowling to apply the finishing touches.

Key Drouin forward and Longwarry recruit Glen Browney showed he was finding a bit of touch in only his second game back after missing a large part of the season through injury and could be the wildcard if he can produce his best.

Given a good day, Morwell will have too many talls for the Hawks, but if it were wet a Drouin victory would not be a surprise.

Traralgon v Warragul

TRARALGON’S home-ground clash with Warragul has the makings of an even contest.

Since the break the Maroons have stood up to be counted, played well against Maffra last week despite a loss and look equipped to match the Gulls.

Warragul has kicked the least points of all the sides in the top five and this gives all comers hope.

However, few apart from top sides have been able to penetrate its miserly defence and outpoint its classy band of midfield runners led by Ryan Davey, Des Barr and assistant coach Leigh Sheehan.

The Maroons have one of the elite players in the competition, Ryan Potter, who is starting to show why he played in Woodville-West Torrens premiership team last season.

However, on the downside they have most likely lost two key playmakers Michael Geary and Arron Crosby to injury for the rest of the season and this tips the scales in favour of Warragul.

The Gulls were far from convincing last week against Drouin, but should win and a margin of less than two goals at the final siren would come as no surprise.

Leongatha v Garfield

LEONGATHA will enter its home-ground tussle with Garfield largely unfancied.

Last time the two met, the Parrots were left red-faced, failing to score a goal for the entire game.

Since then, Leongatha has been treading water and in contrast Garfield is now touted as a serious premiership favourite.

The Stars lost no admirers after its fighting two-point loss to Sale last week and will be too adept at each end of the field. On the upside for Leongatha, rugged defender Paul LePage returned to the fray in round-nine and not only does he add spine to the Parrots, he also inspires teammates around him.

Furthermore there was a bit to like about its gritty loss to Morwell last week.

On the rebound from last week’s narrow loss to Sale, the Stars will be fuming and it is likely to take out its fury on the Parrots who look helpless to prevent another big drubbing.

Moe v Maffra

MOE will be hoping the two-week break will make its charges hungry for the ball when it plays Maffra.

Apart from home-ground advantage, it is hard to make a case for the injury-hit Lions.

The return of Symon Lee and improvement in fellow youngsters Brad Wedrowicz, Dean Horton, Thomas Long and Ben Morrow have been the most promising sign in what has been a disappointing season.

In recent weeks, Maffra, the reigning premiers seem to be turning its season around and showing it can once again be a genuine premiership threat.

The Eagles have lost a good deal of experience in 2007, but this has given the opportunity for a few of its younger brigade to put their hands up, in particular the tall Daniel Stubbe, Sam Walker and Jed Costigan have shown that they could well be the X-factors that make the Eagles a dangerous outfit.

Maffra should win comfortably.

Selections with likely winners in capitals: Moe v MAFFRA, Traralgon v SALE, Drouin v MORWELL, Leongatha v GARFIELD.