NORTH Ballarat should not have too much trouble dealing with Northern Bullants in the Victorian Football League at AUSTAR Arena today.
After all, the Selkirk Roosters are a game clear on top of the ladder - six wins better off than the eighth-placed Carlton-aligned Bullants.
If only it was that easy.
The Northern Bullants are one combination which consistently gives North Ballarat grief.
They have beaten the Roosters five times in their past six encounters.
And since he returned to the helm of the North Ballarat last year, coach Gerard FitzGerald has yet to taste success against the Bullants in three clashes.
The Roosters' early season visit to Preston was nothing less than disastrous.
North Ballarat was thumped by 42 points and was probably fortunate to finish as close as it did.
This time North Ballarat takes a seven-game winning streak into battle, but this is no comfort for FitzGerald.
"They've been a real stumbling block for us.
"It's yet another challenge," he said.
North Ballarat will take arguably its strongest line-up of the season into the match, with Ed Lower returning from North Melbourne, VFL representative Brett Goodes back from a corked thigh and North Melbourne spearhead
Aaron Edwards taking another major step back after a broken leg.
Stephen Owen, Billy Driscoll and Robbie Gregg are the unlucky three to miss out as victims of the Roosters' depth.
FitzGerald said selection came down who could best fulfill particular roles.
Goodes has played his best football running out of defence, where Owen has been doing the job.
And Driscoll and Gregg are victims of a wealth of running forward options such as Jacob Spolding, Stephen Clifton, Dean Chester, Eddie Sansbury, Cruize Garlett, Blake Grima and Ed Lower.
The addition of Edwards gives the Roosters plenty of options up forward, despite still being without Josh Smith with a knee problem.
Edwards joins the proven duo of Paul McMahon and Michael Wundke, who have menaced a series of rivals, and youngster Robbie Tarrant, who is still finding his way in the VFL.
While North Ballarat might look comfortable at the top of the ladder with three rounds remaining, this is certainly not their frame of mind.
This is as big a match as any this season.
The Roosters know a win over the Bullants will go a long way towards sealing top position.
They are well aware a loss will bring them back to the pack as Williamstown and Port Melbourne breath down their neck.
* Former North Ballarat and Essendon ruckman Tristan Cartledge makes his debut for Richmond against Hawthorn tomorrow.
The Tigers picked up Cartledge, 23, in last year's AFL rookie draft after a big season with the Roosters in the VFL.
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