A STRONG Gisborne defence will aim to halt Eaglehawk’s attacking power in Sunday’s A-grade qualifying final on day two of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s finals series.

For most of the season, Eaglehawk has regularly passed the 50-goal mark.

An occasion it did not do so was in round 12 when Gisborne kept the Hawks to just 48 goals at Gardiner Reserve.

The red, white and blue showed it also has attacking flair in a 68-victory at home.

Earlier in the year, Eaglehawk scored a 53-38 win against Gisborne on the Two Blues’ court at Canterbury Park.

Second and third at the end of the home and away series, Gisborne and Eaglehawk had identical win-loss records of 11-3, but Gisborne was almost eight per cent clear.

In 14 contests, Gisborne  had 775 goals for and 564 against.

Eaglehawk’s tallies were 816 and 628.

Both are in winning form.

Gisborne’s round 18 clash at home ended in a 20-goal win against South Bendigo.

The Hawks beat Maryborough by 13 goals at Canterbury Park.

The winner of Sunday’s match advances to a second semi-final showdown with Sandhurst.

Finals action begins on Saturday when qualifying finals in four grades are played.

The exception is A-grade where Kangaroo Flat faces Golden Square in an elimination final.

Kangaroo Flat will start favourite.

Despite a win-loss record of 4-10, Golden Square made the top five by finishing seven per cent clear of Maryborough and more than 10 per cent clear of South Bendigo.

The blue and gold moved back into the top five without even taking to the court in the last round of the regular season.

Four points received because of no play at Kyneton meant Golden Square drew level with Maryborough and South Bendigo on 32 points.

The blue and gold face a tough task advancing beyond Saturday.

Kangaroo Flat won the round six match on the Kangaroos’ court at Dower Park by 35 goals.

The margin was much closer in round 15 as the Roos fought on for a 43-38 win at Golden Square.

Kangaroo Flat’s run of eight wins and five defeats includes a drawn clash with Sandhurst.

In terms of goals against, the Roos are on 623 and the Square on 667.

Kangaroo Flat’s attacking power is shown by 732 goals score, while Golden Square’s season tally of 582 is the sixth-best in the A-grade competition.

Draw for Saturday’s play at Queen Elizabeth Oval:

A-grade, elimination final at 3.20pm: Kangaroo Flat v Golden Square.

A-reserve, qualifying final at 2pm: Sandhurst v Kyneton.

B-grade, qualifying final at 12.40pm: Golden Square v Kangaroo Flat.

B-reserve, qualifying final at 11.20am: Golden Square v Sandhurst.

Under-17, qualifying final at 10am: Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.

Draw for Sunday’s play at Queen Elizabeth Oval:

Under-17, elimination final at 10am: Gisborne v Golden Square.

B-reserve, elimination final at 11.20am: Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat.

B-grade, elimination final at 12.40pm: South Bendigo v Eaglehawk.

A-reserve, elimination final at 2pm: Gisborne v Golden Square.

A-grade, qualifying final at 3.20pm: Gisborne v Eaglehawk.