AFTER a round where most clubs were on the road, this week’s VNL action sees most clubs back at the State Netball Centre.

The match of the round is undoubtedly the first one tonight, which will see the Blaze take on the Express.

These are the two undefeated sides left in the competition, and with sides as hungry as they are, no doubt this will be a well fought battle.

Another particularly intriguing match also set to get underway first up tonight is between the Falcons and the Demons.

Both of these sides are coming off big wins, and although the Falcons will rightfully come into the match as favourites the Demons will feel the confidence after the way they were able to dismiss of the Waves last week.

Game three on the menu tonight is between two sides who will be disappointed with how last week went, and will be keen to bounce back quickly.

Both the Lightning and Strikers were on the losing side of their respective matches last time out, and although they lost in very different ways, will be no less frustrated with the respective outcomes.

The final match of the night sees another top end of the ladder clash.

The Hawks and Cougars currently sit in fourth and fifth on the ladder, with only half a game and about seven percent all that separates the sides at the moment, so this could be a close contest.

Not all teams are at the State Netball Centre tonight, with the final match of the round set to take place on Friday.

The Western Warriors will be travelling across town to take on the Southern Saints in a Friday night showdown.

This could be one of the most intriguing clashes of the entire round. The Saints are coming off the bye, while the Warriors are coming off a draw, so how that affects their momentum and confidence remains to be seen.

The team with the bye this week is the Peninsula Waves, who could really do with the reset after a poor start to the season.

VNL Championship Round 9 Fixture

Tonight at the State Netball Centre

North East Blaze vs Boroondara Express
City West Falcons vs Casey Demons
MU Lightning vs Bendigo Strikers
Hawks Netball vs Geelong Cougars

Friday at Mentone Grammar

Southern Saints vs Western Warriors

BYE – Peninsula Waves