THE home-and-away section of the Gippsland League ends tomorrow.
With finals beginning in other competitions, the major league will take an unfamiliar back seat this weekend.
While there will be four teams just wanting to get tomorrow over and done with, Sale, and especially Maffra, will be gunning to secure the four points before finals.
The Eagles travel to Traralgon, in a match that could be a dress rehearsal for the first week of finals.
The Maroons cannot finish lower than fourth, and as it stands, it looks as though Maffra will not finish higher than fifth, meaning the two league heavyweights will be preparing to face off in an Elimination Final this time next week.
Maffra has a sizeable percentage gap on sixth-placed Morwell, who it is equal on points with.
The Tigers host the Magpies tomorrow, and could steal the last available spot in finals from the Eagles if results fall their way.
In what may be seen as a cruel twist of fate, Sale has a direct say in whether or not Maffra makes the finals.
Those privy to conspiracy theories have surely dabbled with the thought the Magpies may implement a Ross Lyon-inspired resting system at the selection table.
For those unaware, Lyon rested 11 players for the final round of the 2013 season while coaching Fremantle, reasoning that with top-spot secured, it was not worth risking any injury to his best players.
Sale is in a similar situation. Having earnt a double-chance, and done the hard work during the regular season, it would be well within the rules for the Magpies to put some of their key players on ice.
The sense of irony would surely not be lost on Sale officials, who will recall Morwell doing exactly the same thing against the Magpies on their way to winning the premiership in 2013.
While those connotations add to the by-play of what may or may not happen tomorrow, being the proud clubs that they are, Sale and Maffra will ultimately just be aiming to win their respective matches tomorrow.
Alex Carr and James Huts celebrated milestone recently for the Eagles, and will want to keep a good thing going, while Brad Dessent could have his sights set on kicking a bag and getting accustomed to the dimensions of a ground he could step onto come finals.
IN other games, Leonagtha should have no trouble defeating Drouin when the Hawks make the journey over the hill.
Warragul is a good chance to end its season on a positive when it welcomes Bairnsdale, while Wonthaggi will look to head into finals with a win when it sees Moe come to town.
If the Lions are to pull off an upset, it will need to focus more on the game and less on the impending bus trip on the way back.
