The Siuslaw Vikings girls volleyball team hits the road this week, with some serious forks lurking at North Bend and South Umpqua.

Here's the week ahead for the Far West League's top contenders:

• Marshfield (6-2 in league) — Tuesday at Douglas, Thursday vs. Brookings-Harbor.
• South Umpqua (6-2) — Tuesday at Brookings-Harbor, Thursday vs. Siuslaw.
• Siuslaw (5-3) — Tuesday at North Bend, Thursday at South Umpqua.
• North Bend (5-3) — Tuesday vs. Siuslaw, Thursday at Douglas.

Wins Tuesday and Thursday by the Vikings likely would lock up a home match in the Oregon School Activities Association Class 4A playoffs.

A win either night by Siuslaw likely would lock up a playoff match.

The Vikings may be a long shot to make the playoffs if they drop both matches.

In the first round of league play, Siuslaw was swept in three games by the visiting North Bend Bulldogs, but rallied from two sets down to beat South Umpqua, 3-2.

Marshfield currently is ranked No. 7, South Umpqua No. 15, North Bend No. 18 and Siuslaw No. 22.

Siuslaw shared the league title last season with Douglas, then won a playoff with the Trojans for the league's top seed at state.

NOTES

Siuslaw is scheduled to play in the Marshfield Invitational on Saturday. ...

The Class 4A "freeze date" for playoff rankings is 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17. ...

Tillamook, which beat Siuslaw in the first round of the state tournament last season, currently is ranked No. 4 with a 13-3 record. ... Sisters (17-3) is No. 1. ...

The state quarterfinals, semifinals and championship match are Nov. 3-4 at Forest Grove High School. ...