Just two weeks remain in the 2019 Women's Super League season and with the prospect of a final day decider between the Warriors and Zebras still looming, both sides need to pass just one more obstacle to get there.
For the Hobart Zebras the equation is simple, win against South Hobart on Sunday and they hold the cards heading into the final day of the season. With a +17 goal differential advantage, they will need just a draw from the final day if they can secure maximum points this week.
Given the high likelihood of the Zebras doing that, a draw is probably going to be as good as a win for Olympia when they take on Kingborough on the Saturday. It simply won't matter if they head into that final day 2 points behind the Zebras or level on points, as the scenario remains that a win to Olympia on the final day would secure them the title, otherwise the 2017 Champions will claim their second Super League crown.
The Lions won't be an easy game for the Warriors though, they are an opponent who has troubled them this year despite Olympia claiming all three WSL clashes that they've played. Wins of 3-2 and 1-0 at Lightwood Park show how close the games have been, whilst the Lions were also the side who knocked the Warriors out of the Statewide Cup. A 5-2 win in the only one of those games at Warrior Park is encouraging for Olympia however, and without the influential duo of Zoe Horgan and Hanna Manuela, it's not quite as strong a Lions outfit as the one that has pushed them in 2019.
Despite a point likely being enough for Olympia, no doubt they will want all 3 as it would put the pressure back on the Zebras on the Sunday when they take on South Hobart. If Olympia were to lose though, they could well be playing to all but secure the league title.
After some encouraging results earlier in the season, it's been tough sledding for South as the season has worn on and they are limping to the finish line. If they are to pull themselves from the foot of the table then they will need either cause an upset this week against the Zebras, or the following week against Ulverstone.
That won't be easy against a Zebras side who came through a tough month of games to claim top spot, then really flexed their goal scoring muscle with a comprehensive 18-1 win over Clarence last Sunday. The Zebras have looked dialed in for a month now and are a team on a mission. Sunday should be a fairly comfortable three points for them, but what the ramifications of those points will be, we wait to see.
In the final game of the weekend, it doesn't get any easier for a struggling Clarence side, who now face road trip to Ulverstone. The Eastern shore side are limping towards the finish line, and given their struggle for fit player its hardly an ideal time for this one to come about. An injury to defensive rock Zara Dixon midweek further complicates things, and this one looms as a big chance for goal machine Jazmin White to sew up her Golden Boot defence, which she currently leads by 5 goals.