The competition returns to its full weekend schedule following the split round, with sides refreshed and raring to go.
Lancaster (4-0) and Murchison-Toolamba (4-0) have top billing in a clash between two sides that figure to have every chance of meeting again in September.
The Wombats and Grasshoppers are used to such fate, having contested the 2022 grand final in the midst of a downpour at Mooroopna.
The clash brings enough passion independent of any other factors, but sitting in the top two spots with dominant undefeated records only further stokes the fire.
In a two-time defending premiership side, Lancaster coach Tom Davies says the opponent alone is motivation enough.
“In the last few years, we’ve had a pretty good rivalry,” Davies said.
“They’ve always been thereabouts. They’ve got some really good forwards, and they’re well-balanced across the field.
“I reckon it’ll be a pretty good game.”
“Really good forwards” may be an understatement when looking at the likes of Grasshoppers spearhead James Lloyd, who has 41 goals from his barnstorming opening month of football.
Corralling the likes of him won’t come easily.
“Obviously, if you don’t allow the footy to get in there easily, it’s hard to score, so we’ll try and work at it in the coalface,” Davies said.
“Our back six has mostly played together for four or five years now, and our team defence is the key.
“We’ve played them a few times since James has been there, and our full-back has almost always had him, so we’ll back him in to do that again.
“We want to be winning games of footy, and going for three premierships in a row, it’s not hard to get the boys up and about.”
On the other side, Murchison-Toolamba boss Brett Foley acknowledges the game’s significance, but says there’ll be more than one avenue to goal.
“We had a one-point game against them last year, and we think we match up pretty well with them,” Foley said.
“It’s a big challenge for our whole club with the same thing going on in the reserves.
“The footy has lived in our forward half for the last four games, so James has seen a lot of it, but we’re not just relying on him to win the game.
“His brother kicked seven on the weekend, so it’ll be handy if James kicks 10, but it’ll be a team effort and we’ll need to use our other forwards.
“We recruited well in the off-season; games are won in the midfield, and they’re well-drilled, so we’ll look to take our chances up forward early.”
Round five presents a double delight at the top of the table, with third-placed Avenel (4-0), the other unbeaten side, entertaining fourth-placed Shepparton East (3-1) in Saturday’s action.
Knowing sides above them are guaranteed to drop points, Tallygaroopna (3-1) has a gilt-edged chance to insert itself into a crowded race at the top when it hosts Violet Town (1-3).
Merrigum (2-2), likewise, has the opportunity to gain crucial ground on the upper echelon when it travels to winless Longwood (0-4).
Rounding out Saturday’s clashes, Nagambie (2-2) seeks to bounce back from a disappointing grand final rematch loss to Lancaster in a trip to Girgarre (1-3).
The round-five Sunday specials pit Dookie United (1-3) against Rushworth (1-3) and bottom side Undera (0-4) at home to Stanhope (2-2).
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