The Magpies last-round clash with Corrimal may no longer be the finals play-in game it had looked like becoming, but Batty affirmed his team will still be treating the match as a must-win. 

Balgownie currently sit fourth on the ladder, equal on points with Wollongong and Keira, and Batty said his team is determined to leapfrog both of those sides. 

"The win last week propelled us to equal second, finishing top-two would be our ideal scenario, that would take rain out of it in the semi-final," Batty said.

"Last week was a grind, Uni put up a good fight, so the win gives us confidence. This week's equally important to get a good victory and get guys into form."

Corrimal's tilt at the finals came to an end on a horror weekend for the club last Saturday, with a loss to Wests and Balgownie's outright victory over Uni leaving the Cougars eight points behind Bally and out of the running for a finals berth. 

Batty is expecting Corrimal to use the disappointment of missing the four as motivation to knock off the defending premiers this weekend.

"Last week would've been pretty disheartening for Corrimal. They've got quite a good, young team and they always play well against us. They'll want to finish off the season well, so we'll have to play our best cricket. 

"Which is a good thing, it's really good there is a result at the end of this last round. If you can take it a bit easy, that might flow into the semis, so it's a good scenario we have to win this week."

The Magpies' late-season charge has been led by the return to form of strike bowler Jamie Fleming, who took 10 wickets in last week's victory.

The experienced spinner claimed a five-wicket haul in last season's grand final and Batty said it's crucial Fleming and fellow veteran Jason Bunyan continue to build momentum ahead of next weekend's semi-final.

"We still have to improve our bowling and fielding, we dropped a heap of chances last week. Our batting's always strong, that takes care of itself. But we don't have a lot of strike bowlers, that's our weakness, we rely heavily on Bunyan and Flem.

"They've got a lot of experience. There is a lot of pressure on their shoulders to take the bulk of the wickets, but they're two guys who always step up at this time of year. They're keen as mustard to get into the finals."

While the finishing order of positions second through fourth will be finalised this weekend, Saturday will act as a coronation for Northern Districts, who have already secured the minor premiership. Holding a nine-point lead at the top of the ladder, the Butchers will hope to finish the season on a high when they play Helensburgh.

The jostle for second place will see Keira take on Wests and Wollongong play University. Both teams will be looking for runs in search of a bonus-point victory. 

The final match of the weekend will see Dapto host Port Kembla. 

Saturday March 9 11.30: BALGOWNIE v CORRIMAL at Judy Masters Oval, UNIVERSITY v WOLLONGONG at University Oval, DAPTO v PORT KEMBLA at Reed Park, NORTHERN DISTRICTS v HELENSBURGH at Hollymount Park, WESTS v KEIRA at Figtree Oval.