Sitting fifth and fourth on the table respectively, a win this weekend for either side would help put some distance between them and a chasing pack that includes Melrose, Albury City and Wangaratta.

The Wanderers will be without influential midfielder Josh Zito through suspension, but coach Shaun Wilhelm is confident his side has the depth to respond.

“We're just trying to bounce back from last week,” he said. 

“The boys had played three games in eight or nine days (one was a make-up game after rain in round eight), a few of them pulled up sore after the Melrose game.

“We don't have any injuries outside of that, we'll have a full squad.”

Similarly, Boomers are looking to find their way back onto the winners’ list after falling to Cobram 4-1 last weekend.

Though they were hindered by the smaller ground in Cobram, Boomers’ Wayne Fraser said last season's runners up needed to tighten up in defence.

“We're certainly looking at some of the areas where we let ourselves down,” he said.

“Defensively we weren't good enough and they exposed us a few times.

“With the quality that Twin City have up front with guys like Matt and Shane Hasler and Aaron Williams, if we don't close those guys down we could be really badly punished this week.”

Though disappointed with the performance last weekend, Fraser said it was a learning experience for the side's younger players.

“We would like to be a bit higher up on the table, but we've got some young guys, 16 years old, who are starting to develop,” he said.

“We've had to bring some older heads back in like Adam Campbell because we just haven't had the depth we've needed.

“It's a development year for us, but we'd certainly like to be higher up.

“The younger players we have are good players, but it takes time to get used to senior football.”

There are a number of crucial matches this round as a number of clubs looks to stay in touch with the likes of Cobram and Albury United.

Wangaratta City face a crucial test against the second placed United after an impressive victory over Myrtleford last weekend.

Melrose and Albury City are set to face off at Jelbart Park, with the winner likely to climb to sixth on the table.

St Pats host Cobram, Diamonds host Myrtleford and Hotspurs tackle Heart.