Altona Magic, reigning champions and coming off a win, will travel to take on the Melbourne Knights.

After ending the winning run of Heidelberg United last week, Magic will look to clear from the drop zone with a win at Knights Stadium.

Striker John Thornley has been vital since joining the club during the transfer window, including scoring a brace against United.

Meanwhile, the Knights were denied by a fine goalkeeping performance from Peter Zois.

It's difficult to see scoring duo Jean-Charles Dubois and Kevin Townson being kept off the scoresheet again.

For both teams, Sunday's game shapes as a must-win in the context of their seasons.

RICHMOND will welcome the Oakleigh Cannons in a clash between the first and third-placed teams.

Both teams have only won one of their last five games after a dominant start.

But the Eagles have won five of nine at home and will be looking for the attacking third to return to its best, as it was in the opening 10 rounds.

The Cannons have also struggled and were on the wrong end of a 3-1 loss to Hume City.

Striker Jerry Karpeh has been in fine form and causing danger up front but has struggled to find the net.

SOUTH Melbourne will need to find another three points to keep its season alive when it hosts Hume City.

South is still five points from a finals spot but has won two of its last three encounters.

Striker Gianni De Nittis found some form with a brace last week, but a win against Hume would make it a dangerous title contender.

Hume is also in fine form with three-straight wins.

Striker Richard Cardozo has regathered his goal scoring touch and it has led to a turn in City's form.

DANDENONG Thunder will back itself to record a seventh win in a row when it hosts Northcote City.

The competition's in-form team went down 2-1 to the Melbourne Victory in a mid-week friendly.

But at league level, the Thunder has benefited from the brilliant form of English import Jamie Reed, who has scored six goals in the back half of the season, as well as the one against the Victory.

Northcote managed to steal a late point last week and, despite having a game in hand, it needs to hold the Thunder to at least a point.

If the Thunder and Green Gully win, it would leave Northcote six points from the top five.

GREEN Gully will visit Sunshine George Cross in a derby clash, which has seen the two teams have contrasting fortunes since their last meeting.

The Georgies won that match 1-0 in Bendigo after a flying start to the season, but eight-straight losses sees it destined for relegation.

It's difficult to see how the Georgies can win against a Gully team that has won four of its last five.

Taking its chances has been a key in its recent form, with strikers Mathew Sanders, Josh Groenewald and Jason Hayne all finding goals.

In combination with a solid and consistent back four, Gully is shaping up as the competition's dark horse.

HEIDELBERG United needs to bounce back from its loss last week when it welcomes the Bentleigh Greens.

United suffered a surprise loss at Altona Magic and lost striker Nicholas Marinos to a late red card.

But striker Saso Alexovski found the net again to take his season tally to seven.

The Greens have lost four of five and have little time to adapt to replacement coach Andy O'Dell.

With a shocking goal difference, the Greens are only three points from the bottom two with a game in hand.