Just 20 runs stand between Lake Illawarra and putting an exclamation point on another South Coast minor premiership.
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But the sub-plots move well beyond, with the all-conquering Lakers and fighting Oak Flats preparing for up a semi-final rematch after whatever is made of Saturday's result.
And the Rats, who suffered a late collapse to be all out for 113, showed they will be more than nuisance value in the finals.
Lake made it to stumps at 5-94, after Oak Flats weathered the storm of Kerrod White's innings, where he made 51 of the 73 runs they had on the board when he was caught.
"It was a tacky sort of pitch and Kerrod was the only one who really looked like he was in," Lake Illawarra captain Mark Ulcigrai said.
"But we're not there yet, they lost late wickets in their innings and we've got to go out there an finish it off next week.
"We've got them again in the finals, so there's plenty of value in spending time in middle if we can go on with it."
Opener Kip Penfold carried his bat through the Oak Flats innings, playing the anchor role at 34 not out, but even more remarkably, Ryan Chatterton was dismissed after handling the ball trying to prevent it from hitting his stumps without scoring.
After last week's rain, play was abandoned between Shellharbour and Albion Park on Saturday.
Shellharbour are destined to meet The Rail in the other playoff match, who were led by Kieran Gilly with 121 in their total of 275 from just 62.5 overs. Kookas are 3-61 after 21 overs in reply.