Melrose and St Pats brace for crucial game this weekend

However, Melrose will go into the game with a new found confidence after securing a personal win of their own taking down third placed Wangaratta last round.

Melrose defender Ashlea Thurnam said the boost has come at a good time as they prepare to face the competition's current benchmark.

"It's definitely got our spirits going at the right time of the season," Thurnam said.

"Carrying that good win into a hard game will hopefully help us bring our best to the game."

But Melrose aren't letting the upset win go to their heads, knowing a tough game against St Pats looms.

"I think they've (St Pats) definitely peaked at the right time and they're staying at that peak coming into finals," Thurnam said.

"I think a lot of club's will be coming out hard, especially given it's coming to the end of the season.

"We'll make sure we have no gaps in the centre for them to penetrate through."

Melrose look to welcome two players into the side this weekend, while Dominique Cole is set to sit the clash out.

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St Pats look to have a full line-up with just one player an uncertainty.

St Pats goalkeeper Natasha Anderson said despite her side's new ranking, they're still just focusing on playing the best they can.

"It's really nice to see that we've improved considering the start of the season when we were considered to be the team to take it out, and then we lost the first three or four games," Anderson said.

"Now that we've come in at the end of the season, everyone is looking at us.

"We're just fighting for the best position possible to go into the cup."

Anderson admitted that her opposition this weekend aren't going to make it easy for them to keep their winning streak intact.

"Melrose somehow have a way of making us play our game, so that's something we'll be focusing on this week," Anderson said.

"I don't know what they do, but it just ends up being a hard fought game against them.

"We see ourselves as a team that can improve and make our game better."

This weekend's clash between Melrose and St Pats will be played at Melrose Park and will also mark the Melda Chater Shield, which aims to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.