In their second encounter in two weeks, Northcote will host South Melbourne on Sunday, in what is expected to be another ripping game. In the round five of State Knockout Cup, two weeks ago, South Melbourne has seen it’s spirits raise, as it carved out a home victory against Hercules boys. However, the high spirits were not enough for Peter Tsolakis’ boys to triumph in the round nine of Victorian Premier League last weekend, as they played draw in the 50-years old, original Melbourne Derby last weekend, with Melbourne Knights (2-2). The loss has seen South Melbourne drop at the fourth place on the ladder. Northcote City, in the meantime, did what it has been doing almost every weekend since the beginning of the 2013 VPL season – won. Dandenong Thunder supporters could not do anything to raise the spirits of their favourite club, when it welcomed Goran Lozanovski squad, in what was the reigning champion’s first home match in front of their audience this season. Northcote team returned home with a 1-0 victory in hands, enhancing numerous predictions that Hercules boys are on a good path to celebrate at the end of a season. “We have to reassess what we want to achieve. At the start of the season we would say – nothing less but the top five finish. But given the way we started, what we’ve been able to produce so far; as long as we are competitive and doing our best every week – everything else will take care of itself. There is still a long way to go, another 12 games after this one. I’m pretty confident that if we can maintain our levels, it’s going to hold us a good stead,” the Club president Peter Kotsiris told Neos Kosmos. As Kotsiris said, after good result was achieved against Dandenong last weekend, the team is up for the “massive game” with South Melbourne. Hercules Boys will fight in a Greek derby without Evan Kounavelis, who was suspended in a Knockout Cup game against South Melbourne. “We are concerned with Evan Kounavelis being out of the field for another two weeks after this game. However, we have a whole list to pick from and we are looking forward to the challenge,” club president Peter Kotsiris said. “We all know the history of South Melbourne and what they have done for the Australian football. I strongly urge everybody to get out here and watch the top quality game, as both teams want to play good football.” Two Greek-sponsored teams will play their VPL matches today, Friday. Oakleigh travells to eight on the ladder Pascoe Vale, the newly promoted VPL side. With the round nine win to still winless Richmond (4-2), long awaited for Oakleigh players and the first one for their new coach Miron Bleiberg, Oakleigh is sitting third last on the table, but with the win it needed to start climbing up the ladder. Dandenong Thunder will have a difficult task to fight fifth on the ladder Port Melbourne Sharks on Friday night. Last season’s champions Dandenong have now lost three games in a row and finds itself seventh on the table. Last weekend, Sharks played draw to ten man Bentleigh Greens (1-1), who kept the second position. Green derby will be played on Saturday, in Green Gully Reserve, as Bentleigh heads off to meet Green Gully squad. Last weekend Green Gully got a much needed three points after beating Southern Stars away (2-1), leaving Stars to search for its first win when it faces without-points Richmond on Saturday. Hume City, that held its third on the ladder position after round nine win to Pascoe Vale (1-0), will travel to Knights stadium.

Round Ten Fixtures

Pascoe Vale v Oakleigh Cannons, Friday 21 June, 8.30 pm, Hosken Reserve

Port Melbourne Sharks v Dandenong Thunder, Friday 21 June, 8.30 pm, JL Murphy Reserve 

Green Gully Cavaliers v Bentleigh Greens, Saturday 22 June, 3.00 pm, Green Gully Reserve

Southern Stars v Richmond, Saturday 22 June, 6.00 pm, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

Northcote City v South Melbourne, Sunday 23 June, 3.00 pm, John Cain Memorial Park

Melbourne Knights v Hume City, Sunday 23 June, 3.00 pm, Knights Stadium