Time is quickly running out for South and only three points will do against the table-topping Eagles.

A late header from midfield dynamo Carl Recchia gave it a point at the death against Hume City, but its inconsistent run of results must change on Sunday.

They face an Eagles side coming off consecutive wins but not at the peak of its powers.

After a flying start to 2010, Richmond has slowed but opened up a three-point buffer at the top of the table courtesy of other results.

Highly rated striker Daniel Visevic returned to the scorer's list with his eighth of the season last week, while winger Davey van't Schip is beginning to consolidate a position in the side.

GREEN Gully welcomes the Dandenong Thunder in what should be a cracking contest on Saturday afternoon.

The competition's two form teams meet with the Thunder's result of its clash against Northcote City last week still unknown.

Lights went out in Dandenong with the Thunder surprisingly trailing and beaten at 4-1 with half an hour to play.

But other than that hiccup, the Thunder has rampaged into finals contention courtesy of form stars Jamie Reed, Geoff Kellaway and Scott Bulloch.

This week it faces a stern test against the Cavaliers, unbeaten in five games and now sitting in third on the league table.

It has come with a run of away games, where Gully has gained 10 points from four road trips.

Its home form has been improving but still sits at three wins from nine hosting appearances.

MELBOURNE Knights travel to out of sorts Bentleigh in a clash that could decide which of these teams will play in the top flight next season.

The Greens were victorious at Knights Stadium earlier this year but are now on the back foot and in the relegation dogfight.

Bentleigh has lost three-straight games and holds a horrid home record of two wins from eight games, the worst in the competition.

A win for either side will all but ensure it safety, but the Greens will need to prevent the Knights' firepower up front.

Fans of the club would be questioning whether the club's fortunes would be different if striker Jean-Charles Dubois had played more games and added to his tally of eight goals.

After giving up a two-goal lead to Altona Magic last week, the Knights need to win against what will be a tireless Greens outfit.

NORTHCOTE City hosts Heidelberg United in a game that will have huge implications on the top five.

If City had finished last week's game against the Thunder they would be sitting in United's fifth spot prior to the round commencing.

Heidelberg has been reliant on its home form and striker Saso Alexovski, who has continued to find the net in recent weeks.

City is unbeaten in four games and has become less reliant on goals from the league's leading scorer Trent Rixon, with outlets in James Kalifatidis and Jonathan Voulgaris in recent games.

ALTONA Magic faces a task similar to that of its lower table rivals when it hosts Hume City.

Magic scored a late point at Knights last week and needs to avoid defeat against a fine Hume side on Saturday night.

First priority would be to minimize the impact of in-form City striker Richard Cardozo, who has rocketed to second place in the league's scoring tally courtesy of some fine form recently including a brace against South Melbourne last time out.

Altona has begun to close the gaps in its defence after some free-flowing football mid-season, but it will be difficult to contain a Hume side with plenty of attacking talent.

OAKLEIGH will be looking to turn around some indifferent late season form when it travels to take on Sunshine George Cross.

The Cannons, sitting in fourth, are in danger of losing their finals place unless they can turn around a worrying form slump that has seen them lose four of their last five.

But if there is a team you want to face to find some form, it's the last-placed Georgies who have lost nine on the trot.

Despite scoring first against Gully last week, the Georgies lost the clash after conceding a late goal.