Royals FC and Great Southern Coach James McCae, will be hoping to steer his team to a Division Two title after just falling short of the Lower South West in last year's Grand Final. 

The first piece of the puzzle will be defeating Ongerup in Mount Barker on Friday evening, but they will have to do so without the competition's best player Matt Orzel as he recovers from an ankle injury.

After a stint in Division 3, Ongerup look to have a strong side and the game looks to be a genuine 50/50 ball game as the youthful and exciting GSFL matches up against the hardened and experienced bodies of the OFA.  With both regions neighbouring one another, pride will be on the line and both sides looked packed full of quality players.

For the Great Southern, Landmark Carnival stalwarts Ryan Kinnear, Sam Lehman and Graham Ross will again lead a confident Great Southern. Mt Barker big man David Stone will join Albany’s Rick Wallis in sharing ruck duties and trying to combat the influence of Ongerup’s Jayden Brooks, whilst the midfield brigade of Dave Parker, Craig Frost, Matt Smith and Michael McGlade will form the engine room as the side looks to start their carnival campaign with a win at home.

The enigmatic Parker has the potential to dominate the match with his hardness and speed around the packs and will be relied upon to sneak forward and crumb a few goals in what is shaping as conditions ideally suited to his style of football. Royal's rover Michael McGlade is another who will be expected to perform on the big stage for the Great Southern and has the pace to cut the game open if given time and space.

Last year’s Division 3 winners Ongerup will turn to a group of familiar faces to get the job done with State Country regulars Luke Bairstow and Jayden Brooks to again lead the charge. Veterans Ian Lloyd and Aaron Davis have enjoyed great seasons to date and former Hawthorn player Jarryd Morton’s return to his junior club Lake Grace/Pingrup has seen him slot into the experienced OFA outfit.

Two young Ongerup players that need to be watched are Dylan Gilbert (pictured) and Stanly Long-Turner (pictured).  Gilbert was a dominent force in Division 3 last year winning the Jock Beattie medal whilst if Long-Turner can recapture his 2015 Grand Final form he could be the difference up forward.

Prediction- either team under 12 points