Both sides are yet to lose a game - Myrtleford has collected maximum points while Wangaratta sits just two points back after a 1-1 draw with Albury United in round three.

Star Wangaratta striker Adam Burchell admitted coach Daniel Vasilevski has been trying to play down the build-up this week.

"I think in the past we've got ourselves worked up in the moment, being a derby game and basically like a grand final in a way," Burchell said.

"The pressure is on them, at the end of the day I don't think we mind being underdogs.

"They're top and it's there's to lose."

Burchell was battling a quad injury when the side's met at Myrtleford last year, but turned in a match-winning performance in a fiery derby.

While he won't be looking back at past success, he believes Wangaratta can go to another level against the benchmark side.

"Our best test was Cobram and we showed strengths there (6-1 win), but only this weekend will tell if we can play with the big dogs in a way," Burchell added.

"I think our strength has been our midfield.

"Since losing 'Dutchy' Ryan Van Der Steeg to an ACL, we've struggled in recent years to get a replacement.

"Now we've got Mason Nhansana who's like a rock, Riley Hamilton and Josh Masters, as well as Brendan Barton, so it's going to be a pretty physical game.

"Josh Masters had a week off last week because of his 18th (birthday), so we gave him a week off to recover and he'll probably be back (laughs)."

Also in sport:

Myrtleford welcomes back co-coach and goalkeeper Jayden Vescio after he missed a week with knee soreness, while midfielder Jesse Stephens rates himself a "50-50" chance with a groin injury suffered two weeks ago.

Stephens always looks forward to playing against Wangaratta.

"As soon as we finished the (Albury) United game (last weekend), the first thing we said was let's look to the Wang game," Stephens said.

"Before the season even started, you're looking to find when you're playing Wang.

"There's obviously a lot of history and just the lead-in is bigger at training.

"Even Saturday we're going to have a bit of meeting, it's all we'll talk about and think about really.

"It's one of those games, if I play and make a difference and we get the result and I miss a couple of weeks, it will definitely be worthwhile."

Stephens believes Myrtleford will have to be wary of Burchell and Thomas Romero on the counter.