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Oakleigh Cannons have the chance this week to seal top spot once and for all. The leaders – the most stable side of the campaign – host Green Gully on Friday 14 August, a fixture which, under normal circumstances, should not trouble the home team. The visitors are enduring one of the bleakest seasons in their history. They own the league’s weakest attack and struggle to produce anything resembling fluent football. But this is football. No one ever knows what twists the game might take or what mood it will be in on Friday night. South Melbourne, meanwhile, want to keep riding the breeze of recent weeks. After their dramatic cup progression against Fremantle, and with dreams of an A–League licence once again drifting through the Lakeside air, the appetite for bigger things has returned to the historic club. Against Melbourne City, the target is simple: three points. With five points separating Hellas from second–placed Hume, wins in the final three rounds are non–negotiable. Alexandros have forgotten how to win. John Anastasiadis’ side are not well. Whatever anyone says, the contrast between this year’s “yellow and black” and the spectacle they offered so generously last season is night and day. This week United have the chance to put down a marker against a serious opponent and shout that they are still here, still ready to fight for their crown. But the task against Hume will be anything but easy. A strong opponent who will scrap for victory. Can the great Alexandros find the road back to success, or has he truly forgotten how to win? The pitch will tell the story. Pankyprios want to squeeze every last remaining chance of survival in the NPL when they visit St Albans. Since Piddick arrived a few weeks ago, the “greens” have felt a change of air, their image has improved, and now, with only three rounds left, they are ready to give everything for the details. Because that’s where everything will be decided. VPL1 Second–placed Iraklis, a serious contender for promotion to the NPL, visit Melbourne Victory U21 this week. The match carries the weight of a final. Victory, sitting fourth, will throw everything at the game. A win keeps them alive in the chase for second place – a spot currently held by the Greek Australian club, who naturally do not want to surrender it. A tough assignment also awaits Leonidas, who host North Geelong. Brunswick sit eighth, seven points clear of the drop zone, and want the three points to mathematically secure their place in the group. But with the visitors in tenth, the battle for points promises to be fiery. Who prevails will be decided only by time and the turf. The torment continues without pause for Nea Hellas. The almost–condemned Port Melbourne side host the leaders and one of the league’s best teams, Melbourne Knights. What is the Greek Australian club’s objective? No one knows. With morale at rock bottom and the VPL2 nightmare lurking, all that seems left for the “sharks” is pride. Their ego. VPL2 Malvern City want nothing more this week than to reclaim top spot when they face Springvale White Eagles. With only one point separating them from leaders Goulburn Valley, minds inside the Greek Australian club are fixed on victory and how to achieve it. No other thought exists. Argonauts travel to tenth–placed Nunawading. The battle will be fierce. The hosts will fight for points that would keep them at a safe distance from the drop zone for another round. The Greek Australian side must hit very high performance levels if they want to return home with the golden three points. Box Hill United visit bottom–placed Moreland City. Pythagoras have one clear aim: stay inside the top six. The opponent is weak and excuses dry up when matches carry the weight this one does. Clarinda will play for everything this weekend at Altona City. Words are now poverty for Kingston’s side. Every point from here on is treasure. Survival will be brutal and only the team with the strongest will – that flame in the eye that makes athletes achieve the impossible – will emerge alive. NPL – FIXTURES Friday, 14 August Dandenong City – Altona Magic 7.45pm Oakleigh Cannons – Green Gully 8.15pm St Albans – Bentleigh Greens 8.30pm Saturday, 15 August Heidelberg United – Hume City 3pm Melbourne City U21 – South Melbourne 3pm George Cross – Avondale 6pm Sunday, 16 August Preston Lions – Dandenong Thunder 3pm STANDINGS Oakleigh Cannons – 23 – 48 Hume City – 23 – 43 Avondale – 23 – 41 South Melbourne – 23 – 38 Preston Lions – 22 – 37 Heidelberg United – 23 – 34 George Cross – 23 – 32 Melbourne City U21 – 22 – 30 Altona Magic – 23 – 27 St Albans Saints – 23 – 27 Dandenong City – 23 – 26 Bentleigh Greens – 23 – 20 Green Gully – 23 – 15 Dandenong Thunder – 23 – 15 VPL1 – FIXTURES Friday, 14 August Eltham Redbacks – Manningham United 8.30pm Saturday, 15 August Port Melbourne Sharks – Melbourne Knights 4pm Brunswick City – North Geelong 5.15pm Brunswick Juventus – Melbourne Srbija 7.30pm Sunday, 16 August Western United U21 – Langwarrin 4pm Monday, 17 August Melbourne Victory U21 – Northcote City 8.15pm Bulleen Lions – North Sunshine Eagles 8.30pm STANDINGS Melbourne Knights – 23 – 50 Northcote City – 23 – 46 Brunswick Juventus – 23 – 46 Melbourne Victory U21 – 23 – 40 Bulleen Lions – 23 – 39 Melbourne Srbija – 23 – 35 Eltham Redbacks – 23 – 32 Brunswick City – 23 – 30 Manningham United – 23 – 30 North Geelong Warriors – 23 – 28 Western United VPL1 – 23 – 25 Langwarrin – 23 – 23 North Sunshine Eagles – 23 – 20 Port Melbourne – 23 – 16 VPL2 – FIXTURES Friday, 14 August Nunawading – Bayside Argonauts 7.30pm Keilor Park – Whittlesea United 7.30pm Eastern Lions – Essendon Royals 7.45pm Springvale – Malvern City 8.30pm Saturday, 15 August Moreland City – Box Hill United 4pm Goulburn Valley Suns – Werribee City 5pm Altona City – Kingston City 6.15pm STANDINGS Valley – 23 – 51 Malvern – 23 – 50 Royals – 23 – 44 Argonauts – 23 – 41 Keilor Park – 23 – 37 Box Hill – 23 – 36 Whittlesea – 23 – 32 Springvale – 23 – 29 Lions – 23 – 26 Nunawading – 22 – 25 Werribee – 23 – 24 Kingston – 23 – 23 Altona City – 23 – 17 Moreland City – 22 – 12