THE Dubbo Demons will be hoping home ground advantage can lead to an upset this weekend as they host the Cowra Blues in round nine of Central West AFL.
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The Demons return to South Dubbo Oval for the first time in three weeks and host a Blues side which sits one spot above them in third on the ladder.
Despite only one place separating them on the table the Blues will start as heavy favourites after a thumping win when the sides last met in round five.
The Cowra side won 161-79 that day and while Dubbo took some heart from outscoring their rivals in the final quarter, they will need to lift another gear today.
Ruckman Tom Skinner shapes as a key player with his size vital against a Cowra side which always works smartly around the centre circle while the likes of Mitch McKechnie and veteran Terry Lyons will also be important.
Cowra are coming off a 99-43 win over Young, the side which defeated Dubbo 99-46 before the Demons' bye last weekend, and will be backing their fast-paced game plan to get the job done .
The Blues have only won once more than the Demons this season and with Dubbo also having one less bye, they know a win this weekend will give them a great chance of making up ground on the third spot.
The match will also be important due to the fact Young will draw level on points with Dubbo this weekend thanks to the bye.
With the season now halfway through the battle for third and fourth spot will be hotly contested with no team wanting to be the one club which misses out on finals footy.
The first grade match commences at 2.30pm, with reserve grade at 12.30pm, while under-18s kick off at 11am.
