But Camperdown mentor Brooke Richardson says her side isn't shying away from what looms as one of the biggest challenges of its campaign.

In fact, the Magpies are embracing the hardship.

The match on Saturday marks the beginning of a trying four-game stretch which will make or break the club's finals aspirations.

Richardson's team will battle first-placed Cobden - the current premiership favourite - second-placed South Warrnambool, fifth-placed North Warrnambool Eagles and third-placed Warrnambool across the next month.

But first, Camperdown will narrow its vision to Cobden, which is still in the hunt for an undefeated season.

"We're fully 100 per cent capable of beating anyone," Richardson said.

"We've got to show up and give four strong quarters (against Cobden) and make sure we're present in the moment.

"I think we've proven against South Warrnambool and Warrnambool that we can be up there with those teams sitting in the top five.

"I think we deserve to be and Saturday will be a good indicator of whether we should be."

Richardson said Camperdown had used the Hampden league's coronavirus-enforced hiatus to rest and refresh.

"We were obviously messaging and staying in touch but it was a little bit hard not knowing what was coming," she said. "We trained really well on Thursday and we've set the bar high for our game against Cobden and now it's a chance for us to step it up as a collective."

So where will it be won and lost? Richardson has a theory, and it won't come as a surprise.

"At the start of the game, it's still seven versus seven and we'll have the same amount of centre-passes," she said. "It will come down to defensive pressure and capitalising on turnovers we create. "We're well and truly in the hunt and we could dwell on the fact the sides we're playing (aren't teams we've already beaten) but that's our challenge."

In other fixtures, South Warrnambool and North Warrnambool Eagles could have a signifcant bearing on the top five.

Hamilton Kangaroos' clash with Warrnambool at Melville Oval will also loom as a danger game for the Blues.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.