Chiltern and Thurgoona meet in top-of-the-table clash

The raging flag favourite suffered their first defeat of the season against the Hoppers in round 15.

The Bulldogs came out snarling last week with a 159-point caning of Beechworth.

Brookes was unsure if the upset victory was a good or bad result for the rest of the finals contenders.

"I suppose it gives everyone else in finals contention a bit of belief," Brookes said.

"But I'm not sure Tallangatta beating Thurgoona has done us any favours.

"You probably don't want to poke the bear so to speak before finals."

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Prior to the upset loss, the Bulldogs' smallest winning margin was 32-points against the Swans in round six.

Brookes said the Swans had improved vastly since that encounter and would be disappointed if they didn't at least reduce the margin.

"We hope to at least get a bit closer and it would be good to have a win," he said.

"But at the same time their small ground and wet conditions suit them a lot better.

"I probably rate our chances of beating them more at Sandy Creek.

"But we will head into the match giving ourselves a chance of causing an upset."

Despite being entrenched in the top-three all season the Swans can still miss the double chance if results don't go their way.

If the Swans lose to Thurgoona and Tallangatta the following week it opens the door for Kiewa-Sandy Creek.

The Hawks then need to defeat Barnawartha and Beechworth to snare a top-three finish.

"We can still miss top-three but the positive is that our destiny is in our own hands," Brookes said.

"We just need to win one of our last two matches."

The Swans were close to full-strength last week after classy midfielder Mark Doolan made a return from a calf complaint.

Assistant coach Ash Van Klaveren is also a chance to return from a shoulder injury suffered in late May.

Van Klaveren provides plenty of run from defence.