Noradjuha Quantong will slip under the Horsham District Football League microscope this weekend as a season of intrigue continues to unfold.

The Bombers, fresh from an inspiring two-point win over Swifts, are next in line to face the jury and are on notice to continue winning form in a cut-throat battle for finals positions.

Noradjuha Quantong is precariously dangling on the edge of the five in sixth place, now trailing Taylors Lake by percentage and facing fourth-placed Edenhope Apsley this weekend.

Saturday’s contest at Quantong looms as one of two make-or-break encounters for the red and blacks in the run home.

Punters would have pencilled in Noradjuha Quantong for a win against Great Western and Natimuk in the next fortnight but a question mark hangs over tomorrow’s encounter and a last-round clash against Laharum.

Last weekend’s come-from-behind result, confirmed off the boot of veteran Rod Hogan, revealed plenty about the character of the outfit and perhaps reflected the leadership style of joint coach Chris Hilet.

Presence

Hogan too has been a significant presence in the background for the Bombers and it’s no surprise he is featuring in best-player lists in a countdown to finals.

Other names consistently dripping off pens include stoic Brent McIntyre and strong Tom Cooper and the running ability of Jye Smith and Jayden Stacey will be important in the next few weeks.

The Bombers have a tough assignment against an Edenhope Apsley side taking all before it this season.

The Saints became the latest group to notch a win on the belt against Laharum last week and despite a tough draw to finish the season might have done enough to shore up a finals appearance.

The Saints had the likes of Ed Hardy, Taylor Milner, Carl Obst and Chris Oliver leading the charge last week and it has the form to dent Bomber hopes on Saturday.

Edenhope Apsley will have too strong a start for the home side and secure a 14-point win.

Eyes are also on Laharum, in serious danger of falling off finals pace and facing premiership favourite Kalkee at home at Cameron Reserve.

The Mountain Men have slipped to seventh on the ladder and if results follow form this weekend will find themselves two games off the pace.

A major ace still up Laharum’s sleeve is a healthy percentage and a belief it can win its last three games. Keep watch of what happens in a last-round clash against Noradjuha Quantong.

Robbie Miller would be up with pack for league best-and-fairest honours and Zach Cross, Lucas Smith and Cam Streeter have been flying the flag.

But the impregnable force of Kalkee, perhaps relaxed after a bye, will canter home and win by 46 points.

Keep pace

Other premiership aspirants Harrow Balmoral and Rupanyup will experience chalk-and-cheese environments and their bid to keep pace with the Kees.

Harrow Balmoral will be keen to purge the demons of its upset loss to Taylors Lake in a tough game against Great Western while Rupanyup will be on the hunt for percentage against Natimuk.

The loss would have stung Harrow Balmoral which won’t be guilty of a slow start this weekend.

James Staude looms as the primary target in front of the sticks for the Southern Roos who will want to preserve a comfortable buffer in second place on the ladder.

Great Western is off finals pace but is far from a pushover with Roberts Garley and Vaughn in everything and Daniel Fitzell prominent for the Lions last week.

The Southern Roos will win by 37 points.

Overwhelming

Meanwhile, the chances of goals flowing aplenty from the boot of Rupanyup coach Zane Bigmore at Natimuk are high and he is sure to attract the best from the Rams’ defence.

Jono Lovel might be the man for the job but with the ball likely to come down often and quickly, the assignment might be too overwhelming.

Rupanyup will win by 12 goals.

A good close game is likely between Pimpinio and Swifts at Pimpinio with Swifts ending Tiger celebrations to the tune of 15 points.

Swifts still have a faint sniff of the finals despite sitting eighth and experiencing disaster against Noradjuha Quantong last week.

Nick Petering, Jacob Hamilton and Jason Carey have been good players for Swifts while Darcy O’Connor, Glenn Ross and Andrew Leslie led Pimpinio to a solid win against Natimuk.