Just two rounds remain in the 2009 VFL home and away season, and Kangaroo affiliate North Ballarat is poised to claim its second premiership in as many years.

Sitting second on the table, the Roosters face the Bendigo Bombers at Windy Hill this week. While the cellar dwellers are yet to register a win, competitive performances against finals contenders Box Hill and Coburg should give them some confidence going into the clash against the reigning premiers.

North Ballarat will welcome back Kangaroo regulars Corey Jones and Gavin Urquhart to the team that defeated Port Melbourne by 15 points last week.

Urquhart has averaged 17 possessions a game in 2009, but a quiet game in the big loss to the Eagles means the young defender will need to earn his stripes before receiving a recall to the senior team.

It's the same story for Jones who had a strong month of football before struggling last week. The number 21 was in devestating form for the Roosters in the early part of the season, so will look to bounce back with a bag of goals and put his hand up again.

Lindsay Thomas could also provide some attacking flair after being named in a forward pocket, but North Ballarat will have to wait for the North Melbourne selectors to choose its final 22 this afternoon. Thomas was named on an extended interchange bench for the Roos clash with St Kilda. Josh Smith is in the same boat as Thomas, named for the Roosters and North Melbourne.

Shannon Watt will earn a promotion to the Kangaroos team, the 28 year-old announcing his retirement during the week after arguably his best game of the season in the VFL last week. 26 possessions and five marks mean the veteran will be sorely missed by the Roosters down back.

While Watt will leave a hole in defence, it could be filled by Daniel Pratt who has been named on a half-back flank. The tough and rugged defender would bring plenty of experience to the North Ballarat line-up if he misses out on AFL selection.

The midfield battle will go a long way towards choosing a winner; the Bombers boast the likes of Jason Winderlich, Heath Hocking and Kyle Reimers, all with plenty of experience at the highest level.

On the flip side of the coin, North Ballarat's forwards will hope to get plenty of service from Marcus White, Myles Sewell and Tom Roach, but could be without regulars Cruize Garlett and Ed Lower after both were named in the Roos squad.

Williamstown currently sits on top of the table and only percentage separates the top two teams. The Seagulls play the sixth placed Casey Scorpions as the race for top spot goes right down to the wire.

Bendigo Bombers vs. North Ballarat
Sunday 23rd August
Windy Hill at 2:00 PM

North Ballarat seniors
B: Sharkey Moloney Greig
HB: Urquhart Searl Pratt
C: Roach White Power
HF: Spolding Jones McMahon
F: Dinnell Jo. Smith Thomas
R: Hale Clifton Sewell
Int: Chester C. Benjamin Wundke Stephenson Hooper* Feery Cartledge McHugh Peters Murnane W. Benjamin Richardson Hall