WITH only four fixture rounds of the Wagners Risdon Cup remaining for 2014 four teams are preparing themselves for a month of do-or-die football.
Downs Rugby's first day of Super Saturday semi-finals kicks off on August 23.
Dalby, Goondiwindi and Toowoomba Rangers are assured of a start in this year's finals' series with their finishing order still to be determined.
But fourth and fifth spots on the ladder remain up for grabs.
Four clubs - St George, Condamine, Toowoomba Bears and USQ - face a cut-throat scrap in coming weeks to secure one of those two spots and the possible scenarios shape as an analytic nightmare.
St George is enjoying its most successful Risdon Cup season and looks comfortably placed in fourth place but will need to maintain winning momentum to keep clear of the pursuing pack.
The Frillnecks have a bye this weekend - which offers no points - before they face Bears, Goondiwindi and USQ.
Condamine also has a bye to come and meets Goondiwindi, UQ Gatton and Bears in the run home.
Bears have had their second round bye and finish against Roma, St George, Rangers and Condamine.
USQ has a bye in the penultimate round and after UQ Gatton this week Saints have to contend with Goondiwindi and St George.
Uni club president Paul Hanna summed up the equation for the trio of clubs targeting fifth spot.
"Finals time has come early for us," Hanna said.
"It's a really tight situation and our destiny is in our own hands.
"We have three games remaining and ideally we need to win all three of them.
"Condamine and Bears meet in the final round which could be crucial to the fate of all of us.
"We have to go to Gundy next week which is our toughest task.
"But we need to make sure we win at least two of our three games starting with Gatton, then St George, and see what happens from there."
While the mid-table battle looks set to rage until the final whistle on August 16, the minor premiership race also promises some twists and turns.
Dalby currently has its nose in front but with a final-round bye still ahead of them the Wheatmen must roll Rangers, UQ Gatton and Roma to give itself any chance of finishing number one.
Second-placed Goondiwindi can put an end to all minor-premiership speculation if it can sweep Condamine, USQ, St George and Rangers in the closing rounds.
Bonus points will prove vital to all finals' contenders but with a full compliment of matches remaining the Emus look well placed to snatch the number one ladder spot from Dalby.
* TICKETS are now on sale for the 2014 Downs Rugby Awards Night.
The annual presentation dinner will be held on Saturday, August 16 at Toowoomba's St Patrick's Cathedral Centre.
This year's awards also help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Risdon Cup.
The night will include the unveiling of the 50 Years Risdon Cup Team.
More details are available from Downs Rugby on (07) 4633 7733.
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