By MARK CASHMAN

Will Eastern Suburbs rain on Gordon’s grand final parade or can Northern Suburbs or Eastwood make their way through to the Shute Shield premiership decider at Leichhardt Oval on October 31?

Those are the questions that will be answered at Pittwater Rugby Park on Saturday and Saturday as the competition gets to the sharp end of proceedings.

Both teams in the Saturday semi-final lost in week one of the playoffs while Norths and Eastwood delivered results that not many coming.

Here’s how the games could pan out.

Saturday, October 24

GORDON V EASTERN SUBURBS at Pittwater Rugby Park (Kickoff 1.30pm)

Gordon coach Darren Coleman is hoping that the nature of sudden death footy will bring the best out in the minor premiers as they prepare to take on Eastern Suburbs on Saturday.

On the line is a spot in the Shute Shield premiership decider at Leichhardt Oval on October 31 and the Highlanders boss believes the clunky nature of the 15-14 win over Randwick last weekend was an aberration.

Coleman says that his side didn’t become a bad footy side in the space of a week and he is looking forward to a reaction.

“Last week’s game was a strange one,” Coleman said.

 “Playing knowing you are going through to the next week regardless and with no clear advantage by winning or losing is an interesting mental dynamic. 

“Randwick played well and were unlucky to lose but I must say that we defended a lot and with passion and commitment.”

There were oodles of “work ons” though.

“Our set piece was below standard. Our thrower had a rare off day before he got injured and our scrum was inconsistent,” Coleman added.

“This combined with no pay at the tackle contest meant we had less ball than we have had in any game this year. 

“I’m confident with more at stake this week those things will return to the standards we’ve had prior.”

Coleman has been able to welcome Mahe Vailanu back after he was blue carded in the last round game against Eastwood.

Vailanu comes straight back in at hooker in place of Robbie Abel who rolled his ankle in the game against the Wicks.

Gordon has also been able to name Brandon Quinn on the wing and if he gets on the field it will add some genuine gas out wide.

The big out at the Beasties is Rob Leota who broke his ankle in the final play of their upset 29-20 loss to Eastwood last weekend.

Easts though are blessed with depth in their top squad and coach Pauli Taumoepeau has been able to bring Sam Shires in to team with the impressive Charlie Gamble and Dean Oakman-Hunt.

Taumoepeau says they are in a good place this week.

“It’s been a positive week. The boys are in a good headspace and looking forward to this challenge,” Taumoepeau said.

“Gordon are a well balanced side. This just forces us to be smart across the park. 

“We can’t get too ahead with our defensive reads and we can’t get caught playing neutral rugby. 

“Gordon have gone from strength to strength. They started off well and seemed to just get into a groove with the one hiccup against Norths. 

“I’d like to think we’ve been able to build combinations and confidence in how we’re playing.”

This will be one hell of a contest and to be honest it’s a shame that only one of these teams will be in the big dance next weekend.

GORDON (1-15): 

Charlie Abel, Mahe Vailanu, Dom Hardman, Jack Margin, Peter Chanel-Tagaloa, Jack Dempsey, Tom Silk, Jordy Goddard (c), Harrison Goddard, Rod Iona, Ahmu Tuimalealifano, Joey Walton, Tautalatasi Tasi, Brandon Quinn, Reece MacDonald.

EASTERN SUBURBS (1-15):

Vunipola Fifita, Moli Sooaemalelagi, Archer Holz, Ryan McCauley, Jack Digby, Sam Shires, Charlie Gamble, Dean Oakman-Hunt, Jack Grant (c), Cohan Guerra, Henry Paterson, Lalaki Foketi, Alex Newsome, Richie Woolf, Dan Donato.

Sunday October 25

NORTHERN SUBURBS V EASTWOOD at Pittwater Rugby Park (Kickoff 3pm)

Eastwood coach Ben Batger believes nothing less than an 80-minute performance will see them through to their first Shute Shield grand final since 2015.

The Woodies take on Northern Suburbs on Sunday for the chance to go through to the big dance and the footy narrative this weekend at TG Millner Field has been all about taking nothing for granted.

“To beat Norths we are going to have to switched on for 80 minutes because they have proven all year they are very good at staying in the fight,” Batger said.

“Uni got ahead last weekend in the preliminary final and even in our round game we got ahead but they never give in.

“After that it’s about focusing on what we do well and executing that.”

And what the Woodies do well is carrying well through the middle with their impressive and bulky back row and then getting it to the edges.

A lot of the decision making in that area has come from their flyhalf Tane Edmed who had a man-of-the-match shift in the win over Eastern Suburbs last weekend.

His kicking game was superb and he used the rain and the wind at Rat Park well

Batger reckons Edmed has been lucky to have the skills and experience of his scrum half partner Matt Gonzalez on the field for the vast majority of the season.

“‘Gonzo’ (Matt Gonzalez) has had a wonderful year and I’m so glad he has stayed injury free,” Batger added. 

“People forget that he won a premiership as a 20-year-old and he gives Tane time and space because he is so dangerous with his running game.”

Northern Suburbs have been able to name the same side that did so well against Sydney Uni last weekend.

The entire club has got behind the first grade side and have been an important part of the preparation.

“It’s been a big club effort,” Norths coach Earl Va’a said.

“The sides that were knocked out last weekend have been great in giving up their time this week and it has made a difference that’s for sure.

“Off the cuff you would say that scoring more points than Eastwood is the key to winning this one but as you know it’s a bit more complicated than that.

“Both teams know that they can score points when they have the ball in hand but the winning of a finals game will revolve around how we perform when we don’t have the ball.

“Throw into that the weather that has been forecast (wind and rain on both saturday and Sunday) and there are a lot of things that will add up to a winning performance.”

Norths and Eastwood are no strangers to finals footy, having met one another in the 2017 semi-final and the 2018 qualifying final.

Norths got a boost from their bench last weekend against Uni and will be looking for more of the same against the Woodies.

That and some man of the match efforts from the likes of Hugh Sinclair and skipper Harry Burey and the red and black dream for 2020 may still be alive late on Sunday afternoon.

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15): 

German Haeffeli, James Margan, Dewald Dekker, Dave Henaway, Declan Carroll, Brad Hemopo, Heinrich Brendel, Hugh Sinclair, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece Mau’u, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Kepu Lokotui, Max Burey.

EASTWOOD (1-15):

Jed Gillespie, Ed Craig, Rhys Sheriff, Tim Anstee, Charles Granger, Sione Tau, Tom Murphy, Pat Sio, Matt Gonzalez, Tane Edmed, Fabian Goodall, Enoka Muliufi, Lachie Anderson, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Chris Bell.

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY