The Warriors are yet to slip up in 2018, recording seven wins. sit at the top and boast the second best defence in the league.

The Blues are the number one defensive side in the competition and after an upset loss to Timboon they will be seeking redemption in the form of a finals fancy scalp and will be hoping to ruin Old Collegians’ unbeaten start.

Nirranda co-coach Shane Threlfall said his side would utilise team defence in its bid to reverse the ascendancy the Warriors have over the Blues.

“They are very good at keeping control of the footy and we just need to be able to put pressure on them and get the ball back off them a bit quicker than we have in the past,” Threlfall said.

While the Blues will look to limit Old Collegians’ time on the ball, Warriors mentor Josh Reichman said his side was looking to stop Nirranda’s habit of fast starts.

“A couple of times Nirranda have come out of the blocks hard and have got a bit of a jump on us,” he said. 

“That will be something we will speak about coming into the game and making sure we give ourselves every chance to make sure we can play four quarters.

“The guys now know the rivalry we have with Nirranda and that we have to be up and about against them if we are to limit their explosive starts to games.

“We were lucky to get away with it in last year’s prelim final, so hopefully we learnt from that experience.”

Both sides took different approaches to the bye week. Threlfall said that Nirranda had put more work in over the past two Tuesday nights, while Reichman said he had taken a lighter approach to training at Davidson Oval in a bid to freshen up his side ahead of Saturday’s match.