By MARK CASHMAN

Eastern Suburbs have been in finals mode since Round Five of the Shute Shield competition and could think of nothing better than a big derby game to get them ready for the rough and tumble of the playoffs.

After four rounds the Beasties were sitting on one win and four losses and with general thinking saying that you could only afford four losses and make the finals they were very much on a knife’s edge.

Easts take on Randwick in a twilight encounter that could see them jump as high as second on the ladder and an all important second chance in the finals.