After finishing the regular season in fourth and fifth place respectively, it’s now or never for both teams in the minor preliminary final, something that Abed Atallah’s Sharks will thrive on.

“All the boys are keen to put on a better performance than they did last week in front of the home fans,” he said. “Especially as it is an elimination finals match, meaning the stakes are much higher. But all the boys know if we concentrate on our own game and compete our sets, we should be able to get the win.”

Atallah said the team would also welcome back inspirational skipper Hans Schuster and centres Kurt Field and Ian Cantania.

Matt O’Brien’s Kiama come into the match having won their past two by big margins and only just losing to Gerringong the week before.

“Despite losing against Gerringong, where we probably should have won, it was a big confidence booster for all the boys, to show that we can stick it with the big boys in this competition,” O’Brien said.

“We have been able to carry that form through the last two weeks with strong wins.

“Hopefully we can reproduce it on Saturday against Shellharbour. The key to slowing them down is stopping their momentum through the middle.”

GROUP SEVEN

Elimination final

Saturday(2.45pm)

SHELLHARBOUR v KIAMA

Ron Costello Oval