Fierce alliance could cost one Block couple thousands

It's no secret this year's contestants have drawn fiercely loyal battle lines, with the two northern houses on The Block sticking together against the southern three homes.

In fact, alliances are so tight that Sticks and Wombat and Josh and Elyse have even had Keep It North tee-shirts made up!

And while it may seem like fun and games on the surface, the ramifications of previous favours or blocked requests are starting to play a massive role in the competition.

Case in point: Notoriously savage Ron, who had blocked Josh's request to get a head start on planning his garden a few weeks ago, now finds himself in a prickly position regarding the installation of his pool – to have it craned in he needs permission from both Sticks and Wombat and Josh and Elyse to lift it over their yards.

If denied – and chances are high given there's no love lost between the teams – Ron and Georgia face the prospect of not being able to include a pool in their yard at all. A fate ultra-competitive Ronnie won't even entertain.

Check out the above video for a logistical breakdown of the great pool predicament, and tune in this week to see how it plays out! 

The Block is on Channel 9 Sunday 7.00pm and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm. Follow The Block on Facebook, catch-up on this season's episodes on 9Now and read 9Homes