DORA Creek Swampies can seal the minor premiership when they travel to play Dudley in their Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League A-Grade match this Saturday.
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Dora Creek leads the pointscore ladder with 24 points.
Belmont Souths are second, on 21 points.
There are two matches to play before the semi-finals.
Dora Creek coach David Hoban said Dudley would be a challenging prospect at Dudley Oval.
"They're a very big, strong and fast team, and when you're playing up there [at Dudley] they always lift to another level at home," Hoban said.
"More importantly, they're fighting to make the final five, so it's another must-win game for them. I think they'll be pretty desperate so we're going to have to play well to win."
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Dora Creek is coming off two weeks without playing a game.
There was a scheduled bye, but a forfeit by Woodberry in Round 14 has left the Swampies short of a gallop.
"It's not ideal," Hoban said of the break.
"However, since the loss we had to Belmont a few weeks ago there's been a bit of an attitude readjustment for our guys."
Hoban said the squad had been "extraordinary" at the subsequent training sessions.
"I couldn't be happier with the way that everybody has faced that loss. I think we've done enough with our training to take that into the game on Saturday," he said.
Reflecting on the team's impressive season to date, Hoban said he'd been impressed by the solid bonds that had formed between his players.
"Firstly, it's the way we've come together as a team," he said.
"We've had a few new people added to the roster this year, who had been outside the club. So I think the way in which everybody has bonded together as a team [has been significant].
"But for me, the most pleasing thing is the commitment that everybody has made to their training and to the team, and also their competitiveness.
"There have been some games where we probably shouldn't have won, but we just compete to the end and that's one thing, for a coach, that's very pleasing."
Hoban said Israel Smith and Todd Murphy had been among the individuals who had shown admirable qualities.
Smith was shifted to fullback at the start of the season, following the absence of Mitch Kaufmann, and Hoban said it had been an impressive transition.
And centre Todd Murphy's work to bounce back from a serious ankle injury in the pre-season had been well rewarded on the field.
