The Harness Racing Training Centre Central Victorian Concession Drivers' Series has come down to an exciting battle between current series leader Michelle Phillips, second placed Marika Eriksson and third placed Sam Barker.
Entering the fifth and final heat at Maryborough on Thursday January 31, Phillips (28 points) holds a six-point lead over Eriksson (22 points), with Barker (16 points) a further six points back in third.
The hard-luck story is current series leader Phillips, who stands six points ahead of Eriksson and 12 ahead of Barker.
However, Phillips was suspended in the previous series heat and is ineligible to drive in the final heat.
Her six-point lead could theoretically hold up, but would require Eriksson - aboard the David Aiken-trained Irish Grit - to finish no better than sixth in the final heat.
Barker faces an even more difficult task aboard the Andy Gath trained Rapid Run, with only a win enabling him to match Phillips current 28 points and Eriksson to finish no better than sixth.
The ultimate winner of the series will win the Central Victorian Concession Drivers' Championship Trophy, as well as a $500 cash prize from the series sponsor, the Harness Racing Training Centre Bendigo.
There will also be a $1,500 Random Cash Draw available to all trainers who provided horses for the concession races across the five-race series, again courtesy of the Harness Racing Training Centre Bendigo.
HRTCB 2019 Central Victorian Concession Drives' Series
Standings after Heat 4:
Michelle Phillips 28
Marika Eriksson 22
Sam Barker 16
Paddy Lee 15
Tayla French 14
Abbey Turnbull 13
Tommy Hill 13
Jason Ainsworth 12
Shannon O’Sullivan 9
Ashley Hart 9
Mitchell Frost 7
Maddie Ray 7
Jayden Barker 7
Mitchell Barker 6
Ian Attard 4
Connor Ronan 3