As it stands, Mulwala has cemented itself in first having dropped just one game for the season, and looks in a good position to make a tilt at back-to-back flags.
Numurkah enters the final round a game clear in second spot, however it has the bye this week, and its percentage of 153.15 is the worst inside the top-four, meaning it will likely enter the finals series without the double chance.
The Blues have left the door open for the Magpies, who currently sit fourth, as well as Congupna (third) and Nathalia (fifth), who all sit equal on 12 wins for the year.
Moama will play Mulwala away this week, although it may not be as daunting a prospect as it sounds.
Speaking after last week’s big win over Rumbalara, Moama coach Sam Sheldon said the challenge of the Lions would make for a good hit-out before finals.
“It’s great preparation really, they’re the best side in the comp,” he said.
“I’m not too sure what they’ll do, whether they’ve got some sore boys or they’ll rest a few or they’ll go full tilt, I’m not too sure.
“But from our point of view, we’ve got to improve, we’re still looking to improve, and we’ll try a few things against them and see how we go.”
While it remains a possibility, the chances of Moama finishing second remain slim, given it trails Congupna by nearly 20 per cent.
The Road this week plays Tongala, who it should beat to take second spot, although the Blues beating Numurkah last week shows they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If the Magpies beat Mulwala, and Congupna gets the job done against Tongala, they would in all likelihood finish third, giving them a slightly more favourable match-up in the first week of finals.
If Moama were to lose, it would likely only slip to fifth given it enters the round a game clear of Finley in sixth, with the gap between the two in terms of percentage too great to make up in a single game.
The Magpies will also enter the final round having locked away their coaches for next season.
Moama has retained both head coach Sam Sheldon and assistant coach Jye Warren for season 2024. However, the structure will be slightly different, with the pair announced as senior co-coaches for next year.
