Ending a seven-year absence from the finals was Dapto's top priority come season kick-off but Canaries five-eighth Freddie Robinson said making up the numbers won't be enough come Saturday's minor semi-final.

The Canaries have shown enough this season to prove they can test every team in the competition and will take a 2-1 record over the Butchers this season into Saturday's clash.

While a finals finish would have sufficed 12 weeks ago, Robinson said it no longer gets a pass mark.

"We've re-evaluated and we know that we can progress in this competition," Robinson said.

"The way we've been going, stringing a few wins together, we think it's a realistic goal to play through the semis and hopefully a grand final."

The Canaries will lean heavily on the experience of veterans Mick Murphy and Lulia Lulia, while forward leader Matt Handcock is out with a hamstring injury.

Robinson has had a number of halves partners since joining the club from Ipswich this season, including returned local Blake Wallace, who was a standout in the early rounds before finishing the season with the Cutters in the NSW Cup.

He'll pair with local product Troy Pieper on Saturday and - after an at-times scratchy start to the year - the Bulldogs NYC graduate has given coach Chris Leikvoll every reason to believe in his ability.

"I was maybe just trying to do too much early on but from day one I've been really comfortable with the group we had," Robinson said. "I feel really comfortable in the role now, and Murph takes a lot of pressure off me. He's an integral part of our team and his leadership on the field is second to none. He's running the show as well, so we complement each other.

"Our Dapto juniors have all come through and stamped themselves on the competition this year as well, so that's another big plus for us."

With five wins and a draw from their past seven games, including a 26-16 win over Thirroul in the penultimate round, Dapto carry some good form into Saturday's clash, but Robinson said a 44-6 loss to front runners Helensburgh last week was a wake-up.

"Penny [Leikvoll] said to us if we turn up like that against Thirroul we'll cop a hiding," Robinson said.

"We can't perform like that come finals footy and we know that.

"Thirroul are a tough outfit and come finals footy they grow another leg.

"Our boys haven't been in finals footy for seven or eight years, so I think they're going to be charging this weekend.

"It's been a fair while, so everyone's excited and we want to go out there and do the job on Saturday."

Wests coach Jason Ryles has found a silver lining to the injury woes that have plagued the Devils season with a 22-man squad at his disposal for Sunday’s major semi-final clash with Helensburgh.

The Devils have not been alone in their struggles in one of the most injury-ravaged Illawarra Coal League seasons in recent memory.

But Ryles – who has also returned to playing – said the weekly changes have left him with some welcome selection quandaries heading into business end of the season.

‘‘We’ve used 38 players in first grade this year which is no different to a lot of clubs but it’s been pretty challenging at times,’’ Ryles said. ‘‘We’ve had a pretty tough season so far, so it’s good to finally get to the business end of the season and I’m very confident in the players we have playing. We have a squad of 20-21 that we’ll choose from on the weekend. 

‘‘That’s probably been a result of the injuries we’ve had throughout the season.

‘‘We’ve blooded a lot of young guys and guys like Justin Rodrigues and Keiran Tranter came to us looking for an opportunity and have found themselves in first grade at the end of the season. It’s a credit to those guys for hanging in there, working really hard, and hopefully we can put in a good performance on Sunday.’’

Injuries aside it would be wrong to describe the Devils line-up as anything less than formidable with Ryles upfront, halfback Daniel Holdsworth pulling the play-making strings and the competition’s leading points-scorer Mitch Porter at the back. 

While Helensburgh have firmed as premiership favourites by the week, Wests appear their biggest threat having handed the Tigers their only defeat of the season in round five.

They also went desperately close to upsetting the competition front runners in the penultimate round going down 26-22 to the Tigers, thanks to a late try after leading  16-0. 

Ryles said the loss was a lesson for his side. 

‘‘There’s been patches there but it hasn’t been good enough,’’ Ryles said. 

‘‘They’re a quality team and they’re not sitting first on the table by seven or eight points for no reason.

‘‘They’re a real grinding, consistent team and they’ve got some strike power all across the park. It’s going to be a tough ask for our guys but I’m confident if we play well, we’ll give ourselves every chance.’’

ILLAWARRA

COAL LEAGUE

Saturday (7pm)

Elimination final: DAPTO v THIRROUL at Dapto Showground

Sunday (3pm)

Qualifying final: HELENSBURGH v WESTS at WIN Stadium