We’ve officially (we think so anyway) reached the pointy end of the season with just three regular season rounds remaining before the three week playoff series begins on August 12.

Eight sides remain in the hunt to play first grade finals footy and the four remaining teams are all capable of winning against anyone on their day and ruining the post season ambitions of the sides above them on the ladder.

1st – Randwick: 10 wins – 53 pts

Two Blues (A), Souths (H), Warringah (H)

Randwick have dropped just one of their last 10 matches (including a draw against Manly) and look set for a top two finish. They do have to travel to play a desperate Two Blues’ side this week at The Eric but face Souths and Warringah at home at Coogee in the final two rounds.

Two wins from their final three matches should be enough to secure a top two finish and potentially a minor premiership.

2nd – Northern Suburbs: 11 wins – 52 pts

Eastwood (A), Eastern Suburbs (A), Hunter Wildfires (H)

Norths held on to claim an important win over Warringah in round 15 but face a tricky final three rounds, with matches against Eastwood away and Hunter at home on either side of a trip to Woollahra Oval to play Easts, who will likely have Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen back.

Norths should be good enough to win two of their last three and secure a spot in the top two, but they really could finish anywhere from first to eighth in this stupidly tight competition.

3rd – Eastwood: 9 wins – 50 pts

Norths (H), Sydney Uni (A), Manly (A)

The Woodies haven’t won consecutive matches since round nine this year. At their best, they are good enough to beat Norths, Uni and Manly in the coming weeks but they need to find some consistency.

Eastwood are another side that could really finish anywhere from first to eighth at the end of the regular season.

4th – Hunter: 9 wins -49 pts

Gordon (H), West Harbour (A), Norths (A)

The shine has come off the Wildfires in recent weeks and they’ve still got some work to do to book a spot in the playoffs. They host Gordon this week and will be looking to put last week’s loss to Uni in Newcastle behind them.

If they don’t beat Gordon, they’ll most likely need to beat both West Harbour and Norths in Sydney in the final two rounds to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.

5th – Manly: 8 wins – 48 pts

West Harbour (H), Warringah (A), Eastwood (H)

Manly held on to claim an important win over Western Sydney on Saturday to break a four game winless run. While Marlins’ fans can breathe a sign of relief, it’ll need to be quick because Saturday’s clash at Manly Oval will be season defining.

If they don’t beat the Pirates, they’ll travel to Rat Park with their season on the line to play a Warringah side who would love nothing more than to end the Marlins’ season early.

6th – Gordon:  9 wins – 46 pts

Hunter Wildfires (A), Two Blues (H), Sydney Uni (H)

Gordon got out of jail with a last minute penalty victory over West Harbour to move into the top six. But they travel to Newcastle to play Hunter this week in an important match for both sides.

If they lose to Hunter, they’ll be playing knockout rugby against the Two Blues and Uni in the final two rounds.

7th – Western Sydney: 7 wins – 44 pts

Randwick (H), Gordon (A), West Harbour (H)

Saturday’s tight loss to Manly really hurt Western Sydney’s finals hopes. They’ll need to upset Randwick at home this week to avoid facing Gordon in a knockout match in round 17.

They’ll also meet an in form West Harbour side in the final round, which won’t be easy.

8th – Sydney Uni: 8 wins – 42 pts

Eastern Suburbs (H), Eastwood (H), Gordon (A)

Sydney Uni turned their season around with a gritty away win over Hunter last week. If they can beat Easts at home this weekend, they’ll like their chances of sneaking into the playoffs.

If they don’t, they’ll need to win their final two matches against sides also playing for finals spots.