The Roos travel to take on fourth-placed Barnawartha and the Tigers have top three hopes of their own with nearest rivals Chiltern (second) and Kiewa-Sandy Creek (third), who they sit equal with on 36 points, to meet in the penultimate round of a COVID-shortened home and away season this weekend.

Yackandandah were comfortable victors when the pair last met, but coach Darren Holmes knows that won't be the case in the return leg.

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"Barny will want revenge and I expect it to be a very hard match. They will be very hard to beat on their home patch," Holmes said.

"It is really demotivating having the constant COVID stoppages and the team that stays motivated the longest is probably going to have the best chance. I'm reasonably confident we've come out the other end okay, but I guess Saturday will tell."

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