By TOM PRIMMER

It’s all to play for in the final round of this year’s Hospital Cup season. 

Five teams remain in finals contention, and aside from GPS who have the bye, they’ll all do battle this Saturday to determine the eventual top four. 

Bond University will host UQ and Easts will travel to Crosby Park to take on Brothers, while further down the ladder, Wests take on Souths and Norths face Sunnybank. 

Let’s take a look around the grounds. 

Bond University v University of Queensland | Bond Rugby Club | 3:30pm 

The equation is simple for the Bullsharks, win and stamp their ticket to Ballymore, or lose and leave their fate up to the Rugby gods. 

There’s plenty to play for the Heavies too, with victory ensuring they take home the minor premiership, although the side has secured a top-two finish no matter what the result in this one. 

The home side have been bolstered by the inclusion of Queensland lock Angus Blyth, who will pack down with his younger brother Wilson in the second row, while young prop Zane Nonggorr has also been named to make his Premier Grade debut after already representing the Reds. 

Joey Fittock moves to fullback to further enhance the Bullsharks backline alongside the likes of Dan Bordman, Ryan Menzies and Liam Dillon. 

Boardman said his side will need to make the most of their attacking opportunities against the ladder-leaders. 

“The boys are very motivated coming into this UQ game,” Boardman said. 

“We know we will have to show up for this game.

“We will need to defend extremely well and take our chances when we can in their attacking zone.”

UQ have also added some Reds firepower, with Jock Campbell coming into the starting side after a breakout year in the maroon jersey. 

He’ll be joined by Angus Scott-Young and Josh Nasser, while youngster Jasper Mellish and Sam Edwards have also been named to start after Pat Morrey and Scott Gale sustained niggling injuries last round. 

“The boys are really keen to rip in and continue building momentum,” UQ Director of Rugby Elton Berrange said. 

“Finishing Minor Premiers will be a bonus if we get the job done on the weekend. 

“We’ll need to be ready to defend really well. Bond are outstanding in general and counter attack. 

“Their backrow and backline offer threats all over the field. With Jake Upfield and Angus Blyth our lineout work will need to be spot on.”

Brothers v Easts | Crosby Park | 3:30pm 

This one looms as a huge clash for both clubs, with results across the grades determining this year’s Doughty Shield (club championship). 

A win will sew up a top-four finish for the Brethren, and while the Tigers have already secured their spot in the finals, they could still claim the minor premiership with a strong win in Albion. 

Brothers will welcome back a trio of Reds in Harry Hoopert, Ryan Smith and Lawson Creighton, adding strength to a team who has won five of their last six matches. 

Head coach Anthony Mathison said his side are well prepared to face the Tigers.

“There’s no lack of motivation for us this week and we will be ready to go on Saturday,” Mathison said.  

“It’s our last home game, the Doughty Shield will be decided and we know the importance of winning on Saturday.

“We know that Easts will look to challenge us at set piece time and will look to pressure us through their kicking game.

“For us, this week has been all about continuing to improve our execution of how we want to play.”

Easts will have Seru Uru back in their line-up, causing a selection headache with Ben Mowen, Tom Milosevic and Michael Gunn all entrenched in the backrow. 

Mowen may move to the second row to accommodate Uru, further enhancing the Easts pack. 

Jack Frampton also returns to add spark to the Tiger’s backline. 

“Brothers are a team that can score from anywhere as they showed against Sunnybank,” Easts head coach Moses Rauluni said. 

“We have to be well connected in defence.

“They will be at home and desperate to win and stay in the top four like us. 

“It will be a great battle up front with two exciting backlines going at it. 

“They work very hard for each other, so we have to play for 80 minutes to have a chance.” 

Wests v Souths | Sylvan Road | 3:30pm 

Finals may be out of the question for Wests and Souths, but there’s still plenty to play for at Sylvan Road this Saturday. 

A win for the Magpies could see them avoid the wooden spoon if Norths are to lose to Sunnybank, while the Bulldogs will be out to impress their home crowd one last time in 2020. 

Reds scrumhalf Moses Sorovi will make his first start of the year in place of Jacob Carmichael, with impressive outside-centre Illaisa Droasese playing his second game of the year in the Bulldogs jersey. 

Nicholas Donghi returns to the No.10 jersey, with Cooper Whiteside moving back to fullback. 

For the Magpies, Sean Farrell has been named to play at blindside flanker as he returns for his first game out of the Reds bubble. 

The battle of the front rows will be key, with Souths’ youthful front row of Theo Fourie and Phransis Sula- Siaosi going up against the power of Liam Usher, Bronson Fotualii and Gav Luka who have proven to be one of the most damaging scrums in the competition. 

Souths head coach Todd Dammers said his young side will be looking to end their campaign on a high after a season of learning in 2020.

“Finishing the season well is our focus,” Dammers said. 

“Enjoying our last game of 2020 and in all honesty just having some fun with this game.

“Wests have been massive improvers and probably a little unlucky to not have a few more wins under their belt. 

“They are a big side who can play a number of different ways.”

Norths v Sunnybank | Hugh Courtney Oval | 3:30pm 

Norths will look to avoid consecutive wooden spoons this weekend as they host Sunnybank at Shaw Road. 

The Eagles have showed glimpses of their potential this season, and will need to show their best for closer to 80-minutes this weekend. 

Nick Chapman is again in action for the side, with Jordan Luke also back on the wing after returning from a season with the Western Force. 

Flyhalf Jacob Prideaux has also been named to make his return from injury at flyhalf. 

“Just to go out and play some footy is our focus,” Chapman said. 

“We have a really talented side but just have struggled to piece everything together this season.”

“Similar to us, they have some outstanding players in their team but just looks like have struggled to close games out.”

Hayden Sargeant and Digby Ioane will both return to the Bankers side in a boost for the visitors, with Sergeant’s combination with Tom Lucas impressive for much of the season. 

Dragons head coach Sione Fukofuka said his side will need a consistent performance against the Eagles.

“We have worked on being better across the 80 minutes in both our urgency in defence and our discipline in our attack,” Fukofuka said.

“Getting out to a good lead against Brothers was undone by not putting more pressure on their possession and pushing passes in attack. 

“Norths have tracked well and were unlucky to not get the result in a few more games this season. 

“Their set piece has been good and they can score tries from anywhere on the field.”

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU