Leigh Forsyth's Northern Districts are preparing to enter the last chance saloon on Saturday afternoon.
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It's a pretty simple scenario for the Tigers ahead of the final round of the Men's Premier Division season: defeat the Bulldogs at Keira Oval, and hope other results fall their way to keep their campaign alive. If they lose, it's curtains on 2020.
"The boys are feeling very good. We know we're up for the fight and we feel like we've built nicely over the last couple of weeks. So we will have no excuses on the weekend either way," coach Forsyth told the Mercury.
"We know we've got win, it's as simple as that. That's obviously the objective and we'll see how the cards fall around us I guess. We're as prepared as we can be, we haven't left anything behind. I think we've worked hard to get where we're at, so hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves.
"I'm confident that if we turn up to play like we did against the Lions a month ago, we'll be in the hunt. But if we turn up like we did against Kiama the following week, where I think we just expected it would happen, we'll get toweled up. If our attitude is right, I think we'll be in the hunt."
However, standing in their way is a tough Bulldogs outfit who will be keen to clinch their sixth victory ahead of the finals series.
Tigers fans will also keep a close eye on another vital clash on Saturday. While the fifth-placed Norths battle the Bulldogs, the Lions will tackle the Kangaroos in a grand final rematch at Figtree Oval.
A loss could see the Lions fall out of the top four.
But for Forsyth, it's about focusing on what his side can control. And that is putting in a good performance against the Wollongong Bulldogs.
"We know they're skilful and they like to move the ball quickly, obviously, probably a little like Figtree and Kiama to a lesser degree," he said.
"So we're mindful of that and we've just got to hold them up and stop their overlap run off half back. I know they like to move it quickly through that area of the ground and get it deep forward. Providing our forwards are not asleep, I'm hoping we can put some pressure on that part of the ground, hold the ball up and get some turnovers.
"I think our forward line has proven to be one of the best in the comp. We've got enough firepower up there, our challenge is to get it there on a regular basis."
In Saturday's other game, Shellharbour will look to seal their second win in 2020 when they face Bomaderry at Nowra Showground. The Suns won when the two sides last met in August.
Kiama have the bye in the last round of the season.
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
