Taree City will host Port Macquarie, with the winner to claim third spot. Wingham heads to Kempsey to tackle Macleay Valley, with the Tigers needing a win to retain fifth place. Out at Old Bar the Pirates meet Wauchope. Here Old Bar need to win and hope Macleay defeats Wingham. If that’s the case, Old Bar finishes fifth.

“It’s a big finish – and it’s the same in the other grades as well. There’s a few matches there that will decide what teams finish where,’’ Group Three chairman Wayne Bridge said.

Mr Bridge said that adding to the intrigue is the fact that Wingham and Old Bar both have the same points differential (+24). There is possibility they could both finish on 27 competition points if Wingham draws the clash with Macleay and Old Bar beats Wauchope. Mr Bridge confirmed that the points differential will determine the final placings and there won’t be playoffs. It’s a long shot, but after tomorrow’s games both sides could still have the same differential.

“We’d have a formula to work that out,’’ Mr Bridge laughed.

“Just don’t ask me to say what it is off the top of my head.’’

Should Taree City defeat Port Macquarie and Wingham down Macleay, Wingham could jump to fourth on differential. Port’s differential is +3 going into tomorrow. The side finishing fourth will host the elimination semi-final next Saturday.

Wingham’s hopes look forlorn going into the penultimate round last weekend when a depleted team took on an Old Bar side coming off an impressive win over Taree City. However, the Tigers confounded the pundits by thrashing the Pirates 50-26 to keep their top five hopes alive. However, the minor premiership will be heading to Port Macquarie for the third consecutive year. Port Sharks were minor premiers in 2015/16. Last season Port City downed Port Macquarie in the grand final and the Breakers have been dominant in the season-proper this year, with 13 wins from 13 starts. They’ll host wooden spooners Forster-Tuncurry on Sunday – the only game with no bearing on the playoffs.