No side has scraped in, and all of top four teams have shown potential title-winning qualities at different stages of the season.

There’s no doubt that Dapto and Collegians have given themselves the best chance by finishing top-two. It’s a rugby league truth universally acknowledged that it’s harder to defend a premiership than it is to win one and the Canaries have certainly done it tougher through the season than they did in 2016.

Collegians fell at the final regular-season hurdle but spent the overwhelming chunk of the season as the league’s pace-setters. It sets up a huge major semi-final showdown in a fortnight and, on form this season, it’s hard to see either going out in straight sets.

That said, this Saturday’s minor semi-final combatants Thirroul and Wests have shown the top dogs mortality this season.

Thirroul knocked off the Canaries in one of the most brutal games Kick-off has seen in round four while Wests were outstanding in beating Collegians in the penultimate round of the season.

It’s certainly a race in four. May the footy be great and the tins cold.