Bendigo will be looking to atone for last week’s poor second half when they take on mid-table opponents Northern Bullants in a clash that looms as a must win if they are to keep their finals chances alive.

After a pleasing start to June where Bendigo put two good wins together, a familiar trend has developed with the Bombers being competitive for the opening two quarters before falling away in the second half.

While there has been several encouraging signs in the past three losses - including the return from injury of Essendon listed youngsters Heath Hocking and Tom Hislop - Bendigo need to start being competitive for four quarters if they are to play in September.

Bendigo coach, Adrian Hickmott, said the way the side had dropped away was certainly disappointing but injuries to key players had a major impact on Bendigo’s ability to continue to compete with Port Melbourne.

“Courtney Johns was a big loss as he had been straightening us up in the first half and Mal Michael had the back half set before he was injured, so it really does hurt when you lose a couple of senior players like these,” Hickmott said.

“Hislop and Hocking were both sore as the game went on and we were effectively down to no bench by the last quarter.

“The most pleasing aspect of the first half was that we were doing all the good things. We were going in hard, running with the ball. I guess it was just disappointing that while the boys kept trying they didn’t seem to be doing it with the same urgency of the first half.""

This week Hickmott hopes the things that were working well in the first half can be maintained for four quarters against Northern Bullants and says he will be putting it to his players to rise to occassion in Sunday’s game.

“We need this to stay in touch with the top eight, it’s a pressure game and I put it to the Bendigo boys and will do the same with the Essendon-listed boys tomorrow, that this is a crucial game in which they need to perform,” Hickmott said.

Although Bendigo’s run home includes taking on the league leaders, Williamstown, it also has games against the bottom two sides and four teams outside of the top four.