The second-placed Hawks have built a fortress at home this season, losing only once there, and will again be hoping the defensive wall holds firm against the fourth-placed Roos on Saturday.

Star forward Sessions said playing away to the Hawks did not intimidate King Valley.

“King Valley seems to play well at North Wang,” Sessions said yesterday.

“Our home ground is similar. Neither is overly huge.

“We are looking forward to it.”

A win for the Roos will move them equal on 40 points with the Hawks and third-placed Whorouly, providing the Lions are upset at home against Bright.

King Valley, which pulled off a gritty 28-point home win against Greta last week, is likely to again be missing Evan Laverty, Matt Smith and Tim Scheuermann.

But despite not being at full-strength, Sessions said his team was playing well enough to win, even though it would be underdogs.

“They are second on the ladder but we don’t mind that status,” the former Wangaratta Rovers and Tarrawingee spearhead said.

Meanwhile, Milawa captain Scott Pell said he hoped to be back before the finals after playing with a partially-torn posterior cruciate ligament.

Pell, who won’t be risked in Saturday’s home clash against Bonnie Doon, is one of several key injury concerns for the ladder leader.

Scott Gardner (suspected hernia), Tim Lewis (knee), Ryan Hussey (dislocated shoulder), Ben Clarke (leg), Ray Ussher (Achilles) and Nick Coles (calf) are others.

“I’m hoping to be back by the end of the month,” Pell said.

“I probably played for two or three weeks with it not knowing how bad it was.”