By TOM PRIMMER

The penultimate round of the 2020 Hospital Cup is upon us, with five teams still in finals contention. 

Bond have the chance to end GPS’ finals hopes on the Gold Coast, while a win against Sunnybank could see Brothers move into the top four for the first time this season. 

Souths and Norths face off at Chipsy Wood Oval, with UQ hosting Wests at St Lucia on Sunday to round out the action. 

Let’s take a look around the grounds. 

Bond University v GPS | Bond University Rugby Club | Saturday, 3:30pm 

It’s do or die for the Gallopers this weekend as the side face a red-hot Bond University outfit on the Gold Coast. 

Jeeps sit in fourth spot, just two points ahead of Brothers, and with a bye week next round, they need a win this week to keep their spot in the top four and qualify for their fourth straight finals series. 

They won’t have it easy, with Bond enjoying their best and most consistent season in recent memory. 

The Bullsharks have lost just one game this season, with the addition of Liam Dillon strengthening an already potent backline which will feature the likes of Dan Boardman, Mitch Third and Joey Fittock on Saturday. 

With both sides capable of scoring plenty of points, defence looms as the deciding factor in this one, as both sides look to stamp their ticket to Ballymore. 

Wilson Blyth, the younger brother of Queensland Reds lock Angus, has been named to make his Premier Grade starting debut at lock for Bond, while Joey Fittock is back after scoring a hat-trick last weekend. 

Jono Kent has made the move back to fullback for Jeeps, seeing Abele Atunaisa return to the wing and Teti Tela moving to inside centre to pair with AJ Alatimu in the midfield. 

Emosi Tuqiri, Maile Ngauamo and Fred Burke will look to dominate come set-piece time, as the Gallopers embark on the notoriously difficult road trip south for what is their most important match of the season. 

GPS head coach Elwee Prinsloo said his side is ready for the challenge on the Gold Coast. 

“If we can’t get up for this game mentally and physically, we probably don’t deserve to progress anyway,” Prinsloo said. 

“We’ve got ourselves to blame for being in this position but the only thing we can control now is how we perform on Saturday. 

“The boys are excited by the opportunity and out prep thus far has been solid.

“Bond is a dangerous team with plenty of attacking threats. They are fast and skilful with a big mobile pack setting good platforms for them.” 

Sunnybank v Brothers | Oldmac Oval | Saturday, 3:30pm 

Brothers can go one step closer to sewing up a finals berth with a win this weekend, but it won’t come easy against a gritty Sunnybank outfit at the Bank. 

The Dragons pushed Bond for close to the full 80-minutes last weekend, and with a big Ladies Day crowd behind them for their final home game of the season, the side will be raring to produce an upset win over the Brethren. 

Masi Ganita has been named to make his return for the hosts, while Queensland Country teammates Tom Lucas (Sunnybank) and Rohan Saifoloi (Brothers) will go head-to head in the halves.

Sunnybank head coach Sione Fukofuka said his side is out to impress their home fans for one last time this season. 

Playing at home is massive for us and the boys really lift with the support from the club,” Fukofuka said. 

“This week we will wear the MND jerseys for sponsors day, so it’s an added motivation to perform well in our last home game. 

“In a challenging season we would like to sign off on a positive performance at home, to repay the faith of the supporters.

“Brothers are a good attacking team and play an up-tempo width game, so we will have to pressure their source of their possession, win the physical battle and make sure we are accurate defensively. 

“We also need to make sure that we take the confident attacking mindset we had on the weekend into the game for the 80 minutes.”

Consistency in performance brings consistency in sections, and the Brethren are reaping the benefits from their strong form, naming a near unchanged side this week. 

Nate Caroll and Hudson Creighton are two young stars in an untouched backline, while Reds contracted backrower Michael Wood is nearing his best after overcoming a severe foot injury. 

Head coach Anthony Mathison said his side are well aware of the threats Sunnybank pose across the park. 

“Our focus this week has been about making improvements in our game,” Mathison said. 

“We know that if we continue to develop and evolve we will get the outcomes we want.

“Sunnybank have challenged most teams they’ve played and have been a little unlucky not to have won a few more matches. 

“They have a number of attacking threats across the pitch and we know that we will need to play well this week.”

Souths v Norths | Chipsy Wood Oval | Saturday, 3:30pm 

With both sides sitting towards the bottom end of the ladder, this matchup could decide the wooden spoon for 2020, a tag neither Souths or Norths want to receive this season. 

It’s been a tough season for both of these young sides, although both outfits have shown glimpses of the potential that could see them become finals contenders in years to come. 

For the Magpies, fullback Luke Samoa will lead the side with his experience, while young halves Billy Rutherford and Harry Leerentveld have also impressed with some of their showings this season. 

Souths’ wingers KJ Lam and Sebastian Hanna have both showed a nose for the try line this year, with their battle against Norths flyers Jon Reuben and Veresa Mataitini sure to be an exciting aspect of this one. 

The Eagles have named a near unchanged side, with Tonga Ma’afu moving into the starting side alongside captain Cody Blackhurst and Kieran Fitzgibbon in the front row. 

Former Australian Schoolboy and Chiefs Academy member Matt Willshire has starred for the side in his return to the field in 2020 and will again be key for the Eagles. 

With Kieran Prideaux still out injured, Connor Scurr will start at flyhalf alongside scrumhalf Liam Prendergast. 

Star fullback Nick Chapman has been named to make his return in what is a huge inclusion for the side, and he is confident in his team’s chances this Saturday.

“They are a fairly new and young side so think they are just finding their feet,” Chapman said of the Magpies.

“I think if we stay calm and composed for the whole game, we will get the better of them.”

“The breakdown has been a big focus making sure we secure our own ball at all times.

University of Queensland v Wests | St Lucia | Sunday, 3:30pm 

It’s a rare Sunday game for UQ this weekend and they’ll take on close rivals Wests in what is their final home game of the season. 

The Heavies are fresh from a bye, which saw them surrender top spot on the ladder for the first time in over a month, although a win in this one could send them straight back into pole position. 

The bye has given the heavyweights the chance to recover from a number of niggling injuries, with Scott Gale and Brad Twidale both returning at flyhalf and outside centre respectively. 

After spending the season in the bubble with the Reds, Sam Wallis has also been named to make his Hospital Cup return, and the destructive backrower will be looking to make an immediate impact in what is his first game in almost seven months. 

The Students have also been bolstered by the addition of Queensland stars Angus Scott-Young and Josh Nasser, with the 2019 premiership winners both featuring off the bench this weekend. 

UQ Director of Rugby Elton Berrange said the side still has improvement as the season enters its final stretch. 

“We took the full bye week off to freshen up bodies and minds,” Berrange said.

“We recognise Wests’ strengths but have spent the week focusing on some improvements we need to make in our game. 

“It’s awesome to be at home one last time this season. 

“We’re expecting a big crowd and plenty of banter from the sidelines.”

After a narrow loss to another title contender in Easts last week, the Bulldogs will again be out to prove they can contend with the best of the best this week. 

The side’s impressive front row in Gav Luka, Bronson Fotualii and Liam Usher will again be key, while young flyhalf Cooper Whiteside’s battle with the experienced Gale should be a cracker at St Lucia. 

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU