Finals time arrives in the Allan Matheson Shield

A shock defeat to Euroa in December seemed to seriously jeopardise the usual hierarchy, but the Golfers remained on course until consecutive losses to Tallygaroopna and Kyabram made even a top-two finish look distant.

When all was said and done, the top two many envisioned before the season started still eventuated, though the road to get there was littered with twists.

As such, Tallygaroopna and Golf share the spotlight on another big stage, set for the major semi-final at Tatura Bowls Club on Saturday.

Having split their two regular season meetings, Tallygaroopna's barnstorming nine-game winning streak may set David Daws' side apart as favourite.

Golf has a habit of getting up when the stakes are raised, though, and Daws understands his squad will need to fight for every inch.

"We've been playing Golf for a lot of years in finals, but the way the boys have come home this season is really good," Daws said.

"What's happened in the season is done and gone now. We'll be playing as hard as we can to earn our way to the grand final and that's what we'll be focused on.

"We're trying to make up for falling out in the prelim last year, but we've got a lot of positivity around the club and we're in a good space as a team.

"We're going to push it as far as we can go."

Issuing a generally similar sentiment, Golf's Brad Orr maintains his side is undaunted by Tallygaroopna's all-conquering run of form, asserting that finals is a separate beast.

"We know it's finals time and it's a different ball game," Orr said.

"They're carrying some good form into finals, but none of that worries us except for the bowls we play on the day.

"I was super proud of how the boys rallied late in the season; we haven't had our full-strength side the last three or four weeks.

"All the boys who were out are back for this week, though, so we're looking forward to it.

"The ledger's at 1-1 this season and the stakes are pretty high, arguably they don't get much higher than Saturday, so we just have to put our best foot forward and see how we go."

Meanwhile, it's do-or-die in the minor semi-final and when Golf's away Kyabram and Shepparton Park will play.

Shepparton Golf Bowling Club will set the stage for this elimination encounter between two sides who have yet to meet since the festive break.

Mirroring the major semi-final, Kyabram and Shepparton Park have split their regular-season series, with Park taking the chocolates in round one before the Bombers returned the favour in early December.

The winner will advance to meet whichever of Tallygaroopna or Golf comes off second best, with Kyabram having claimed one win over each, while Park was unable to break through either during the regular season.