After seven rounds of Central Victorian League One Men’s action, the who’s who of the competition is now clear.
Sitting on top of the table, Shepparton South remains the team to beat, with the side yet to drop points and having conceded just six goals.
In second, Tatura remains well and truly in the hunt for first-place honours, losing just one game and conceding only four goals, while Shepparton United, which has lost three games, has fallen to fifth.
This weekend’s action could see these positions change, with tough fixtures for local sides.
The all-conquering South will welcome Epsom FC to McEwen Reserve on Sunday, with Epsom hungry to make its way up the table.
Similarly, Tatura will face third-placed FC Eaglehawk at Tatura’s Howley Oval on Sunday, with the Eagles sure to be a massive test for the Ibises.
Meanwhile United will be looking to bounce back from defeat when it takes on Golden City in North Bendigo on Sunday.
Shepparton South coach Rob Harmeston said it would be another test for the side.
“We’ve just got to make sure we maintain our standards and maintain what we’ve been doing throughout the start of the season and just make sure we go there to give them a game,” Harmeston said.
Goalkeeper Nick Marino will be back in the squad for Sunday’s game after serving a suspension, with Harmeston praising fill-in Joseph Busiello.
“He (Busiello) played in goal for us last week so we were pretty happy with him,” Harmeston said.
“It’ll be really good to get Marino back in.”
Harmeston said he was confident South could keep its impressive start to the season going.
“We’ve got a very good group and as long as they are maintaining the standards that they set themselves there is no reason why we can’t keep it going,” he said.
In the League Two Men’s competition, the Shepparton Jaguars will host Swan Hill at Vilbert Reserve.
It is a top-of-the-table clash for the Jaguars, with Swan Hill in first on 10 points and the Shepparton side in second on seven.
• In the League One Women’s competition, Shepparton United will travel to take on Spring Gully United on Saturday at 2:30pm.
United, which had a draw last week against Strathfieldsaye Colts United, will be hungry for a win.
Coach Lucy Ciancio said she expected Spring Gully to come out hard.
“They beat us 6-0 last time so hopefully we can get a win this weekend,” Ciancio said.
“We have a good side, our girls are improving each week, and it showed last week when we drew one-all against Colts.”
Ciancio has come out of retirement this season, with the United mentor pulling on the boots in goal after three years on the sideline.
She will be the last line of defence for a side that welcomes back speedster Tara Ambrosini and potentially Sheridan Fairless, with captain and goal-scoring machine Rezwana Baqiri sure to have an impact.
“We will see how we go, but it would be good for her (Baqiri) to put a few more in the back of the net,” Ciancio said.
“She’s a gun that girl (Baqiri), she amazes me every week!”
Tatura’s League Two Women’s side has the bye.