Corowa is likely to need an upset against ladder leaders Wodonga to stay in the top six on Saturday.
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The district newcomers are just 1.63 points above seventh-placed Mount Beauty, which faces an easier test against Eskdale.
‘We think that we should be there (finals), we’ve got the side to do it,” captain Jarred Lane said.
“We’ve played some good cricket and maybe a little inconsistent at times but, if we can put it together, we think we’re definitely capable of making finals.
“You want to take the opportunities, so it would be a bit disappointing (if we didn’t play finals).”
If results go as expected and Mt Beauty grabs sixth spot, Corowa could sneak back in during the final round as it faces eighth-placed Howlong, while last season’s premiers face a difficult assignment in top four contenders, Baranduda.
Corowa hasn’t faced Wodonga this season, so the home club will again have little knowledge.
“They’re all training as a provincial squad, so obviously it rubs off on their side,” Lane said.
Corowa had the bye last round, prior to scoring a sensational win over fellow newcomers Lavington.
“We had a couple of guys get starts, a couple of decent scores, a 50 and a couple of 40s, so we just need someone to go on and get that 75-80 to help us get that bigger score,” Lane said.
“We need to get 200-plus and to get that you definitely need someone to get that decent score.”
Elsewhere, Yackandandah and Baranduda will be targeting a top two finish when the pair meets in the penultimate round.
Yackandandah fell short last round in posting an outright win over Eskdale, while Baranduda scored a superb win over Lavington.
The Panthers made 218, but Rohan Pearce (65) and Jake Bridgman (56) guided Baranduda to a three-wicket win.
Dederang will be hoping to snare top spot when it hosts Howlong.
The second-placed outfit is coming off a superb win over Wodonga in the top of the table clash.
Andrew Creamer struck 89 for the visitors in the total of 239, with Corey Jones (4-17) and Creamer (2-15) helping to dismiss the home team for 150.
Dederang trails Wodonga by just .1 of a point.
And Kiewa will be out snare successive wins when it hosts Bethanga.
Last season’s grand finalists scored their first win against Howlong by 81 runs.
Adam O’Brien and Ben Stewart grabbed three wickets apiece as the home side was skittled for just 123.
Lavington has the bye, which is worth six points.
