Win this week and Canberra will head north to meet the 2018 premiers, lose and they’ll travel south to face the 2019 NRL minor premiers.
But Ricky Stuart says the “closest bunch he’s ever coached” are equal to either challenge as the Raiders chase a drought-breaking premiership.
Canberra has all but secured their second top-four finish in 16 years and host the Warriors in the final round on Saturday.
It means the Green Machine get a double chance in the finals but an away trip awaits in week one; either against ladder leaders Melbourne or Sydney Roosters.
“It would be great to come third, it’s not going to be handed to us but we’ve got a team that’s up to it,” Stuart said.
“We’re really happy with the position we’re in, third or fourth, we’re going out there tomorrow to try and win the game and if that’s the case we’re third but the most important thing to me is just to keep playing good footy.
“We know what our game is about and we know where we’re at with our game. The boys have matured over the season, over the last 12 months. I feel they’ve got a lot more clarity about their role and a lot more clarity about our actual game itself.”
Stuart said his players’ bond off the field was being shown on it ahead of the Raiders second finals series in seven years.
“The comradery and genuine mateship, the commitment to each other, you see that on the footy field and that doesn’t just happen,” Stuart said.
“Honestly, and I don’t say it to make people feel all warm and fuzzy, I don’t operate that way, but these are the closest bunch of blokes I’ve ever coached.”
Canberra co-captain Josh Hodgson said there was no room for complacency against the Warriors who cannot make the finals.
“We’ve been in their position in the last couple of years and when you’re coming into that last game of the season you want to give it everything because you know you’ve got a long break after it,” Hodgson said.
“We know it’s going to be a very intense and physical game.”