The game looms as a vital contest for both clubs, which want to elevate themselves above the Central Highlands Football League's field of strugglers.

Co-coach Paul Jennings said the Cats were finally starting to gel as a team.

"We showed that on Saturday in the first quarter. The boys were in the rooms a bit earlier than usual and there was a strong focus on getting off to a good start. It's funny how some days you know the players are switched on and

are going to get off to a good start," Jennings said.

The non-playing coach said a win against Ballan would mean his side could take a run of wins into tough matches against Dunnstown and Daylesford.

The brilliant form of co-coach Jamie Wilson is allowing the Cats to overpower their opposition in a string of games against the league's weaker teams. But injuries have taken their toll.

Nineteen Newlyn players were injured after the first two rounds including nine senior players.

"Five of them are back now, but there's four that are out for the season," Jennings said.

Stopping the dangerous Rodney Watts and Zac Peoples will be the biggest challenge, but confidence gained from back-to-back wins should earn Newlyn the rights to favouritism.

The Cats are coming off a 20-point win against Gordon last Saturday.

A six-goal-to-nil opening term set up the victory at Newlyn.

Gordon hit back in the second term, bombing the ball long into the forward zone, and running in waves to come to within 10 points of the Cats.

But it was as close as the visitors came to snatching the lead. Most of the afternoon's goals were scored at the western end of the ground and a productive third term allowed Newlyn enough breathing space to claim the four points.