It's the six weeks of hell the Canberra Raiders hope will have them steeled for a charge towards the NRL's top four.
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The Raiders face the toughest run into the finals of any team, going up against five of the top-six sides and the unpredictable New Zealand Warriors in Auckland.
It starts with Sunday's home clash with the Melbourne Storm.
Aiding the Raiders (10-8) in their quest to make it 13 straight wins at home is the possible late inclusions of centre Jack Wighton and prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.
Both players were put through their paces on Saturday and coach David Furner rates both ''very close'' to returning from injury to face the defending premier.
After winning their past three games against opponents closer to the bottom of the ladder, Furner is relishing the opportunity to gauge his team's progress.
''It's a test to where this team is at the moment, not only where we are on the ladder but as a team,'' Furner said.
''We need to be better and these are the sort of games that bring the best out of the players, and I expect that out of this squad.
''You can see it as a tough campaign, but I reckon it's a good position for the team.''
Along with the Storm, the Raiders take on the Roosters (away), the Bulldogs, Sea Eagles and the Sharks (all at home) and head across the Tasman to face the Warriors, who have won seven of their past nine games to keep themselves in finals calculations.
The Raiders are also in the mix after beating the North Queensland Cowboys (26-18), Parramatta (14-0) and the St George Illawarra Dragons (22-18) in successive weeks. Captain Terry Campese, who will celebrate his 29th birthday against the Storm, said a top-four spot and a valuable double chance in the first week of the finals was realistic.
''We always get up for the challenge against the best teams and seem to play our best football when we do,'' Campese said.
''If we don't win these remaining games, then we don't deserve to be in the semi-finals anyway.''
Furner was guarded about the possible late inclusions of Wighton or Learoyd-Lahrs.
Wighton hasn't played since suffering a groin injury in the round-16 loss to Souths, while Learoyd-Lahrs has missed the past three months with a ruptured tendon in his foot. ''They're very close,'' Furner said.
