THE Mallee Eagles tackle reigning premier Nyah Nyah West United in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy preliminary final on Saturday.
The Eagles will be in their nest at Lalbert for a 2.30pm showdown with the Demons.
Winner advances to the September 20 grand final against Woorinen at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Only meeting the Eagles and Demons had in the home-and-away series was in the eighth round at Nyah.
The Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy-coached Demons won 70-64.
The Brent Macleod and Harry Allen-coached Eagles achieved a win-loss record of 13-3 to be third at the end of the home-and-away series.
An 11-5 tally had the NNWU Demons on the fourth rung.
Day one of the finals featured Mallee Eagles against Cohuna Kangas in the qualifying final.
The Eagles soared to a 101-41 victory at Woorinen as Clinton Cummins, Jacob O’Meara, Matthew Rankine and Harry Allen dominated play.
The Demons kicked off their finals campaign by scoring a 124-87 win against Kooondrook Barham in the elimination final in Swan Hill.
Eight goals by Corey Daniels and five by Patrick Veszpremi were highlights for the Demons.
Last Saturday it was Woorinen against Mallee Eagles in the second semi-final in Barham.
The Tim Free-coached Tigers won 99-72.
Best for the Eagles were Tom and Harry McGregor, Harry Allen and Clinton Cummins.
A 103-77 victory for Nyah Nyah West United in the first semi-final at Tooleybuc bounced Cohuna from the premiership race.
Charlie Boulton, Brady Davidson, Alex Erlandson and Zack Threadgold were NNWU’s best.
Key match-ups in the preliminary final include the centre where the Eagles have Brent Macleod opposed to Demons’ co-captain Joel Walsh.
Mallee’s on-ball group of Jacob O’Meara, Harry Allen and Matthew Rankine will be up against Alex Erlandson, Jordan Iudica and co-captain Dominic Gallo.
A strong attack for the Eagles is led by Darcy Hourigan, Andrew Mead-Harding and Darcy McGregor.
Big roles will be played by Demons’ defenders Nash Richman, Jaydyn Stirling and Joel Campbell.
A talented NNWU attack includes Nic O’Neill, Charlie Boulton and Brayden Bigham.
The Eagles have Clinton Cummins, co-captain Zac O’Meara, Harry and Tom McGregor teaming up in defence.
On the wings the Eagles have Brett Thomas and co-captain Beau Bennett to take on Nic Threadgold and Mitch Grinham.
Mallee Eagles:
B: Harry McGregor, Tom McGregor, Billy O’Meara.
Hb: Zac O’Meara, Clinton Cummins, Isaiah Bull.
C: Brett Thomas, Brent Macleod, Beau Bennett.
Hf: Brady Fordham, Andrew Mead-Harding, Toby Sheahan.
F: Darcy McGregor, Darcy Hourigan, Shaun Harrison.
Foll: Jacob O’Meara, Harry Allen, Matthew Rankine.
Inter: Jonah Devlin, Ethan Pinchen, Troy Anderson, Wes Bennett.
Nyah Nyah West United:
B: Joel Campbell, Nash Richman, Zack Threadgold.
Hb: Ben Shadbolt, Jaydyn Stirling, Corey Daniels.
C: Nic Threadgold, Joel Walsh, Mitch Grinham.
Hf: Max Thompson, Nic O’Neill, Riley Daniels.
F: Brayden Bigham, Patrick Veszpremi, Charlie Boulton.
Foll: Alex Erlandson, Jordan Iudica, Dominic Gallo.
Inter: Liam White, Blake Larkings, Lucas Iudica, Tristan Dalbon.
Emerg: Murndarr McInnes, Oliver Boulton, Zac O’Shannassy, Cooper Andrews.
In the reserves, Mallee Eagles take on Lake Boga from 12.25pm.
The Eagles soared to a 52-28 win against Koondrook Barham in the qualifying final.
Lake Boga has made its way from a 54-50 victory in the elimination final against Nyah Nyah West United to be on the verge of making the grand final.
In last weekend’s play, Mallee could not halt Woorinen’s run to a 63-41 win in the second semi.
Lake Boga dominated the first semi-final against Koondrook Barham to win by 59 points.
Only meeting between the preliminary finalists was in round 10 when Mallee won 57-15 in the Magpies’ nest at Lake Boga.
It will be Lake Boga against Balranald in the Colts clash from 10.20am.
The Lake Boga line-up will be determined to bounce back from a 57-74 loss to Swan Hill in the second semi-final.
The joeys from the Balranald Kangaroos bounced back from a six-goal loss to Swan Hill in the qualifying final to win the first semi against Cohuna Kangas by 80 points.
In round eight, Lake Boga marked an 88-52 win on Balranald’s ground at Greenham Mark.
First clash on preliminary final day will be the Mildura Health Fund under-15s between Kerang and Mallee Eagles from 9am.
The Blues from Kerang kicked off the finals series by scoring a 43-13 win against Mallee in the qualifying final.
On semi-final weekend, Kerang was beaten 60-9 by Swan Hill in the second semi.
The Eagles stayed in the flag race as they won the first semi against Koondrook Barham by 20 points.
In round 11, Mallee defeated Kerang by 22 points on the Lalbert turf.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Lalbert:
Mildura Health Fund under-15s at 9am: Kerang v Mallee Eagles.
Colts at 10.20am: Lake Boga v Balranald.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Mallee Eagles v Lake Boga.
Radio 3SH seniors at 2.30pm: Mallee Eagles v Nyah Nyah West United.