They have finished on top of the Ballarat and District Soccer Association ladder for the second year running, setting up a semi-final showdown with Ballarat North United – the same team which beat them in last year’s grand final.

Rangers captain Raya Rantall said the team was champing at the bit to take on their rivals at Redan’s Morshead Stadium this Sunday after losing to them early in the season and drawing in their next two encounters.

“We know it’s going to be a pretty close game,” she said.

“That’s what we really enjoy, though.”

When they met in last year’s decider, the Rangers and North United were drawn at full-time, forcing the game into overtime, with Ballarat prevailing.

Rantall said while the Rangers knew they still have bridges to cross, they were dreaming of a grand final rematch against North United and the chance to reverse the outcome.

The build-up in 2016 has been different to last season, where the Rangers were the clear top team during the home-and-away season.

This year, they have had to battle injuries and unavailabilities, only reclaiming the number one mantle in the second last round, but will be close to full-strength for Sunday’s semi-final.

Rantall said only one player was likely to be unavailable for the clash.

“We’ve actually played half of our games with only nine or 10 players – it’s a bit unexpected that we were still able to finish on top,” she said.

“I think our girls tried so much harder in those games where we were short on numbers.

“Our team always seems so much fitter than the other team.

“It’s a good feeling knowing that, even without a full side, with no substitues, we are still fit enough to run out the game.”

The winner of Sunday’s second semi-final will progress straight to the grand final, while the loser will be sent to the preliminary final to face the winner of the first semi-final.