Kiewa on a mission to keep finals hopes alive in CAW District

The Hawks are essentially in a two-horse race with Howlong for sixth spot and the chance play for a premiership.

Howlong's upset victory at Dederang last weekend moved them three points clear of Kiewa who fell to Corowa.

Hawks' skipper Josh Bartel hopes his side can find a response away to Barnawartha-Chitern on Saturday.

"We haven't really done ourselves any favours lately. We've been crumbling with the bat when we're chasing and letting ourselves down at bad stages of the game," he said.

"We sort of haven't put a complete game together yet, which is a little bit disappointing.

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"We've got three games and we'll do our best to win all three. We're still chasing our tail from when we dropped the first five games.

"It feels like we've had two seasons in one, but it proves what we can actually do when we're on.

"We've beaten every team in the top six except for Dederang because we had two washouts against them. You sort of scratch your head sometimes."

Coach Ben Curphey is out of the side this weekend, with Jacob Barber and Jason Bartel, who returns form a broken hand against Yackandandah in round nine, both handy inclusions.

In the weekend's remaining games, Howlong faces Mount Beauty in a crucial clash for its finals chances, Dederang takes on Eskdale, Baranduda welcomes ladder leaders Yackandandah, while Corowa hosts Bethanga.