ONE more fortnight. That is all that is left in the Victorian Netball League (VNL) season, and with four teams fighting for one spot in the finals, there is sure to be plenty of twists and turns left.

It is another split round too in Round 16, with games spread across tonight and Sunday.

Tonight’s action begins with a clash that could play a big part in determining how the top four looks in two weeks time. The third placed Boroondara Express are playing the fourth placed North East Blaze, and both sides have plenty on the line in this clash.

Despite already being safe in the finals, the Express will want the win to maintain touching distance of the top two. Meanwhile the Blaze are in a tough fight to keep their place in the top four, and just need to keep wining in order to keep the gap between them and the chasing pack.

History certainly favours the Express, who had a good win the last time these two sides met.

Tonight’s second match has quite the opposite level of influence on how the ladder will finish.

The Southern Saints, who can officially no longer make finals, will want to finish the season on a positive note, but are facing the top of the table City West Falcons, whose premiership defence is humming along nicely towards another finals campaign.

Last time they met it though it was a seven goal win to the Falcons, which on the scale of VNL results is certainly on the lower end.

Two teams tonight that have a lot of pressure on them tonight are the Geelong Cougars and Hawks Netball, who face each other in the third match up on tonight’s menu.

Although they booked their finals spot weeks ago, Geelong is in a bit of a fight to keep its spot in the top two, currently only two points ahead of the third placed Express. The Cougars face a Hawks side tonight who are only half a game out of finals, and cannot afford to drop any more points if they want to remain in finals contention. They are also less than a percent behind the Blaze in the percentage stakes, so every goal will count tonight.

Last time around the Cougars only won by three goals so it could be a tight clash again this time around.

Melbourne Uni also come into tonight’s clash with the Ariels in the exact same situation as the Hawks in terms of the finals equation. However, its percentage is a few percent lower than the Hawks’ and Blaze’s, so will need to bank a big win tonight.

They will at bare minimum have to repeat their Round 9 performance which saw them win by 10 goals over the Ariels.

This week’s final match is on Sunday in Frankston where the Peninsula Waves will be hosting Casey Demons.

Although finals have not been on the cards for the Waves for a while, the same cannot be said for the Dees. Of all the clubs with precarious finals situations this week, Casey’s is the most precarious. To put it simply, lose this week or next and they can kiss finals goodbye. It is as simple as that.

The Dees will be hoping they can repeat history on Sunday since last time they played the Waves they won by 12 goals.

VICTORIAN NETBALL LEAGUE ROUND 17 FIXTURE

Wednesday at State Netball Centre

Boroondara Express vs North East Blaze

Southern Saints vs City West Falcons

Geelong Cougars vs Hawks Netball

Melbourne University Lightning vs Ariels

Sunday

Peninsula Waves vs Casey Demons – Jubilee Park, Frankston