Rivals Wodonga Raiders and Wodonga to meet in a match crucial to finals

Wodonga Raiders' teenager Max Glass will face Wodonga's Mitch Dinneen in the much anticipated derby at the former's Birallee Park.

"Yeah, there's been some banter between us on the work site, which is good," Glass suggested.

"A few of the other boys have been stirring us up."

The landscapers are good mates and like all friendships, there's a bit of give and take.

"He can be a bit smart at times," Dinneen offered.

The link between the pair dates back to when the 21-year-old Bulldog grew up with Glass's older brother Jedd, while he started his apprenticeship with the boys' dad Vin.

Vin Glass is a member of Raiders only premiership side (1998).

At 188cms and 90kgs, Dinneen has 10cms and 16kgs over his opponent.

"Yeah, if he comes my way, I'll get in first," Glass joked.

The banter will, naturally, take a back seat in the vital game.

A win will probably seal Raiders a finals berth, despite the fact there will still be six games left, while Wodonga will be hoping it's third time lucky this season following a couple of disappointing second halves.

After shocking pre-season finals fancies Yarrawonga in round two, the Anzac Day clash a fortnight later was billed as the Bulldogs' best chance to snap a six-match losing streak against their rivals and by an average margin of 59 points.

They failed miserably.

The Bulldogs trailed by three goals at half-time, but capitulated to kick just 1.6 to fall by 61 points.

Coach Jordan Taylor admitted the players had played the game mentally beforehand, which isn't surprising given the team hasn't played finals for 12 years.

The next chance came against Wangaratta Rovers on June 26.

The Hawks were without their six Sydney-Wollongong or Gold Coast-based players due to COVID and at half-time, the Bulldogs trailed by 16 points, They lost by 55.

Wodonga will be boosted by last week's stunning three-point loss to unbeaten Albury.

"It probably just gave us a bit of belief, they had a few players out, but it highlighted that if we show up, we're a chance," Dinneen revealed.

The Bulldogs' season is on the line because if they lose, they fall three wins out of the top five.

Raiders have recalled two of their best players in coach Jarrod Hodgkin (knee) and Scott Meyer (clearance issue), but the player the visitors simply must stop is Jydon Neagle.

The three-time club best and fairest loves the derby games and has tormented Wodonga, kicking nine goals on Anzac Day, 2016.

His first game this year was against the Bulldogs - in fact it was his first competition match since 2019 - and he kicked five goals, despite carrying a long-running calf complaint.

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