AFTER four weeks of matches against sides that finished outside the Golden Rivers Football Netball League finals last season, Murrabit will embark on a tough nine-week run of games tomorrow with a visit to rivals, Wandella.

Currently fourth on the ladder after the opening month of the season, the Blues take on the defending premiers in what marks a period of the year that will see the team play the Bombers and last season's grand finalists, Ultima twice, as well as encounters with Nullawil and Hay between now and June 30.

If Bryden Morison's side is to challenge for a final spot for a third consecutive season, the visitors' performance at the Wandella Recreation Reserve tomorrow will be critical to the club's premiership hopes.

The Blues dominated Wakool in a 211-point win six days' ago, and whilst Nathan Henry's 14-goal effort was his best performance in more than a decade, his battle tomorrow with either Ryan Lancaster or Lachie Allison will go a long way in determining the result of the game.

It will be a special occasion for Lancaster, with the five-time premiership player to chalk up his 349th senior match for the Bombers, breaking the club record held by Stuart Keating.

Whichever of these two Wandella defenders does not match up on Henry will go to Justin McConnell, whilst Morison faces a battle in the midfield against the likes of Dillan Treacy and Jason Iannucci.

Fellow former E.G. Hunt Medallist, Justin Robinson will be one player to watch for the hosts, whilst Paul Grayling or Cody Schepers – who kicked four goals in the Bombers' 37-point win against Ultima last weekend - will battle against Dylan Morison in the Bombers' forward line.

The Blues are the last team to have defeated the Bombers, thanks to a one-point victory last August, but the margin should be greater tomorrow.

PREDICTION: Wandella will win by 20 points.

Lions' first test

LIKE Murrabit, Hay will also face its first challenge of season 2018 tomorrow when the competition leaders travel to Ultima.

Daniel Gash's side has kicked more than 30 goal in each of its three games so far this season, with Simon Bunyan's 10-goal haul last weekend against Quambatook making him the fifth player this year to produce a double-figure haul in a game in 2018.

Bunyan will face his biggest test tomorrow, with either Lachlan Paull or Jayden Kiel to take on the competition's leading goalkicker.

If Bunyan is contained, it will be up to Angus McSweyn and Jackson Ferguson – who will face a match-up with Luke O'Toole across the ground – to be focal points inside the forward 50.

Down the other end of the ground, Andrew Low and Sam Lugsdin will need to contain Arnold Kirby and Stephen Lyons from scoring multiple goals for the hosts, whilst the battle between Gash and Roos' coach, Jack O'Rourke will be a highlight.

Ultima won both encounters between the sides last year, with the Lions needing to produce their first win at the Ultima Recreation Reserve in more than five years to remain on top of the ladder.

PREDICTION: Hay will hold on for a 10-point win.

Home comfort for Swans

MOULAMEIN will look to record a second home win of the season tomorrow when the side take on Macorna.

The Swans were not match for Nullawil at the Maroons' home ground last weekend, going down by 117 points, whilst the Tiger had last weekend off and are still searching for their first win since round 12, 2017.

Although being competitive for parts of their matches against Murrabit and Quambatook, it will be hard for Wayne Wishart's side to snap a two-match losing streak against the Swans.

Matthew Angel and Jordan Simpson will be leading players for the Tigers, but the side does not have enough options to shut down key midfielder Tom Isma, utility Ben Booth or key forward Josh Gadsden.

The other issue is where Macorna will get their goals from. The side has only booted 10 goals from its three matches in 2018, with Simpson – who is more regarded as a defender than a forward – kicking four of them.

A win by the New South Wales-based club will keep the side in touch with the top four, especially with games to come against Hay, Wakool and Quambatook in the coming weeks.

PREDICTION: Moulamein will win by 50 points.

Saints to climb

QUAMBATOOK can move to within one win of the top four with victory at Wakool tomorrow.

The Saints struggled against Hay last weekend in a 182-point loss, whilst the Hawks conceded more than 30 goals in a match for the fourth consecutive weekend in the club's 211-point loss to Murrabit.

The hosts will look to Joe Thompson and Joshua Flight to get the ball into their forward line, but this will be difficult against a Gregor Knight-led midfield.

Like Macorna, the difficulty the Hawks have is scoring goals, and with eight players having kicked the team's combined total of 12 goals so far this season, this pattern will continue tomorrow against a back like headlined by Ash Davis and Luke Parker.

Down the other end of the ground, if Craig Loomes and Reagan Hamilton do not stop Christopher Stone and Martin Angus from scoring, it will be another poor day for the Hawks, who take on former premiership coach, Adam Pollock for the first time.

PREDICTION: Quambatook will add a fifth consecutive win against Wakool, thanks to an 80-plus point victory.

• NULLAWIL has the bye this weekend, with the Maroons to host Wandella on May 12.