The two top-flight regulars have both struggled and a win is of vital importance to each.

The visiting Cavaliers sit in ninth with the Knights in 10th and a loss could spell the end of a possible finals position in 2010.

The home side will be without star striker Jean-Charles Dubois following his sending off in the 2-0 loss at Northcote last week.

The Knights were wasteful and will need to improve in front of goal, with midfielder Liam Cannell the main culprit, missing two penalties.

Green Gully threw away what would have been a critical two points when it conceded a stoppage time equaliser at home to Heidelberg.

Gully continues to struggle in the attacking third with only striker Gary Wales and left back Steven Burton scoring three goals.

The Cavaliers have scored multiple goals in games just twice in the opening 10 rounds.

The Knights will also welcome back a host of NSL premiership heroes with a reunion game played following the clash with its local rivals.

HUME City will look to continue its return to form when it hosts Northcote.

Hume has won two games on the trot after its embarrassing loss to South Melbourne, including a 5-1 thrashing of Bentleigh Greens last week.

Injury concerns over player-coach Andy Vlahos remain, but Zoran Petrevski is on the return and Turhan Sumbul and Richard Cardozo are showing signs of good form up front.

Northcote has profited from the return of star striker Trent Rixon with consecutive wins.

But defender Adriano Chiappetta was the unlikely source of a late double to overcome the Knights last week.

The visitors will need to be in their best form to overcome Hume.

SOUTH Melbourne will want to overcome its form slump when it hosts Sunshine George Cross in Northcote on Saturday.

South has lost back-to-back games since attaining title favouritism in its round eight win at Hume.

But it has only scored one goal in two games since nailing six in Broadmeadows.

The league's leading goal scorer Fernando De Moraes has scored seven this season.

The Georgies will be disappointed they failed to hold onto all three points against Dandenong on Monday night.

Youngster Evan Christodoulou scored his second of the season before the Thunder equalised 10 minutes from time.

It is a battle between fourth and fifth with the winner edging closer to sealing a finals spot.

HEIDELBERG United will host Dandenong Thunder in a must-win for the struggling club.

The Bergers took a point from Green Gully last week but are in desperate need of a win to stay in touch with the competition.

The Thunder has continued its bolt up the competition ladder and is now undefeated in the last three outings.

RICHMOND will take up its attacking style of play with the visit of Bentleigh on Friday night.

The Eagles are in third and have persisted with attacking play throughout the season.

Meanwhile, the Greens are on the rebound after a disastrous 5-1 home loss against Hume last week.

They dropped out of the top five and have a game in hand but cannot afford another heavy loss this week.

Top of the table OAKLEIGH will visit Altona Magic on Saturday with eyes firmly set on continuing its run atop the competition table.

The Cannons are unbeaten away from home and have had Nicholas Kalmar, Jerry Karpeh and Michael Curcija each scoring goals.

The Magic was improved against Richmond last week but was still left empty handed after a late Milos Lujic winner.

Under a new coaching staff, the home side will be desperate for a win to move from the relegation zone.