THERE is a mere three weeks left in the Victorian Netball League season, and as the competition spreads out and goes on the road again, the finals picture may just get that last bit clearer over the next five days.

Tonight’s first clash is the only one this round at the State Netball Centre, and it is between the Falcons and Lightning in a must win clash for the Lightning.

With where the Lightning sit on the ladder at the moment, if they lose this week and the Express and Blaze win, their finals hopes get significantly smaller. It is not quite do or die yet, but lose this week and next week certainly will be.

The Falcons on the other hand are still sitting pretty on top, and will likely spend the last few weeks of the season to continue their finals tune up as they look to go back to back.

Moving out east to Heathmont, and the Hawks’ season is on the line tonight than the Lightning’s as they tackle the Ariels.

Currently a game behind the Lightning, if the Hawks were to lose tonight and particularly if the Blaze and Lightning win, they can just about kiss their finals hopes goodbye.

Luckily they have the bottom placed Ariels this week, so finals should remain on the cards for at least one more week.

Someone in a similar situation but with a tougher task this week is Casey, who host the Express tonight at Casey Stadium.

Casey is on the same number of points as the Hawks, so its finals dream is similarly precariously balanced. It faces the third placed Express, whose form has been on the up and down recently but did beat the Dees the last time the two sides met.

The final game tonight is in Oakleigh as the Saints host the Waves.

Neither side can make finals anymore, so both teams will want to just finish out the year strong.

Last time they met it was a strong win to the Saints, so the Waves will be wanting to flip that result tonight.

Moving along to Sunday, and at La Trobe the Blaze will host the Cougars in a match that could prove crucial to how the top four eventually looks.

The Blaze are in a similar situation to the Lightning but their percentage is better, so even if they lose there is that buffer. They play the Cougars, who did beat them last time around and are sitting comfortably in second place with a finals spot booked. However, it was only a six-goal margin last time, so will a margin that tight be repeated on Sunday?

VNL Round 16 Fixture

Wednesday

City West Falcons vs Melbourne University Lightning – State Netball Centre

Ariels vs Hawks Netball – Maroondah Nets

Casey Demons vs Boroondara Express – Casey Stadium

Southern Saints vs Peninsula Waves – Oakleigh Rec Centre

Sunday

North East Blaze vs Geelong Cougars – La Trobe Sports Stadium