Season decider?

The Victory dropped three straight games but picked up a vital 2 points against the Scarabs last night in what might give them some much needed momentum ahead of their crucial encounter against the Fairytale Buttercups.

The team have not fared well against their adversaries so far this season with a 2-3-1 record being outscored 17-24. The Buttercups are also on a stonking run having not lost in regulation for 11 games (10-0-1). The run has included some impressive wins against titans of the league including both conference leaders the Sharks and Shamrocks as well as other stalwarts including the Beefs and Crunch.

The gap between the teams is currently 6 points though the Victory do have three games to hand. With the Buttercups playing twice before their meeting with the Victory (who remain idle) the gap could be as large as 10 points (5 games in hand) by the time the teams meet- a real possibility given the Buttercups form. A loss for the team and the resultant 12 point gap would all but end another seasons play-off hopes.

With the Pirates eliminated long ago from the farm play-off hunt for the first time in GM Buff's tenure the game against the Buttercups might be the most important yet in the franchises history.

The Buttercups have surprised me. Still a bit to go, it could be a close finish!

The crunch game is tonight ladies and gents. The Buttercups and Victory square off at the Dock in front of a capacity crowd. The Buttercups lead the Victory in the standings by 8 points but the Victory do have 5 games in hand.

Two days later the Buttercups travel to Monroeville whilst the Victory pay a visit to the Rex.

Two days after that the Buttercups begin a back-to-back home and away against the other conference rival the Phoenix whilst the Victory welcome a tough task in the Shamrocks hoping to take advantage of their two closest rivals playing each other.

By the end of this 6 day period the Victory can be certain of one thing- they will have 6 games in and over the Buttercups. The uncertainty is that the gap could be as small as 2 points or as large as 16! Factor in that both teams are very closer in points % to the current 4th and final seed the Phoenix and the season is reaching boiling point!