After producing arguably their best performance of the season in a big win over Easts in round 17, Norths were far from their best in a scrappy win over Randwick last weekend.

While two late tries was enough to secure victory and a home qualifying final against Eastwood, coach Shannon Fraser doesn’t think a similar performance will be good enough come Sunday.

“We definitely under performed last weekend defensively and in some of our effort areas. We improved throughout the game and found form late but at this time of year, that performance profile will get you knocked out,” he said.

“We’ll need to start well against Eastwood and keep our standards up for 85 minutes.”

If Norths can win on Sunday, they won’t have to play away from North Sydney Oval again this season and will be odds on to host a third straight Shute Shield grand final.

But Fraser said the 2016 premiers aren’t looking that far ahead.

“Eastwood are probably the most settled team in the finals. They’ve had consistency with the same group most of the year and that’s been reflected in their performances.

Although most of his players have featured in the Shoreman’s past two finals campaigns, Fraser said he didn’t think that was too big an advantage for his side.

“I think you can read to much into the ‘experience’ side of finals. At the end of the day, it’s just another game and I expect big performances from all 23 players regardless of previous finals experience. It’s just another game, another opportunity to be better.”

Eastwood raced away to a 22-0 lead over Manly at Manly last weekend but let the Marlins back into the match and scored late to salvage a 29-29 draw.

“I was pleased with the performance actually,” Eastwood coach John Manenti said.

“It was finals type footy and although they mowed down our lead, it was only two interceptions that breached us. Plus we had the resolve to score the last try when we were behind.”

Despite that, Manenti says he expects things to get tougher this weekend and played down suggestions that the pressure was on the second placed Shoreman.

“We have everything to lose. Anything but a win and it’s season over for us,” he said.

“It won’t be an easy task and our discipline, defence and attitude needs to be spot on.”

Northern Suburbs (2) v Eastwood (5)

Northern Suburbs (1-15)

Ezra Luxton, Sam Kitchen, Dan Solofa, Connor Vest, Patrick Tafa, Taylor Francis, Will Miller, Hugh Sinclair, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Cam Clark, Harry Burey, Irae Simone, Richard Woolf, Sam Giltrap.

Eastwood (1-15)

Jed Gillespie, Hugh Roach, Rob Lagudi, James Neale, Rhys Allen, George Kent, Tom Murphy, Patrick Sio, Michael Snowden, Jackson Bird, James Sarks, Blake Sutton, Pama Fou, Fabian Goodall, Liam Windon.