MITTA United co-coach Phil Packer concedes his side will be forced to walk the finals tightrope for the remainder of the season.
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The Blues sit fourth with a 4-3-1 record but look the most vulnerable side inside the top-five of remaining in finals contention.
While Thurgoona, Chiltern, Barnawartha and Kiewa-Sandy Creek look assured of playing finals - Mitta United, Tallangatta, Yackandandah and Rutherglen find themselves jostling for the remaining spot inside the top-five.
The perennial finalists face Dederang-Mt Beauty, Tallangatta and a resurgent Chiltern to complete the first round of the season.
They have lost their past two matches against Barnawartha and Rutherglen and Packer said the Blues were now fighting for finals survival.
"We probably shot ourselves in the foot last week when we kicked 2.8 in the second quarter," Packer said.
"They kicked five goals straight in the first quarter after we dominated general play but couldn't score.
"It's hard to win games of footy when you kick like that."
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Packer said similar to most clubs, the Blues' depth is being severely tested due to injuries.
"We haven't got the luxury of making form changes," he said.
"All our changes our forced through injury at the moment."
Packer said the last fortnight plus the next three weeks would determine their finals fate.
"We identified those five weeks against sides who are also in the finals mix as crucial," he said.
"But now we can't afford to look past this week to be honest and being a home match is a must-win really."
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