Leulua'iali'i-Makin will play for the Queanbeyan Whites in a knock-out preliminary final against the Gungahlin Eagles at Viking Park on Saturday.

A loss would shatter the Whites' premiership hopes and send them tumbling out of title contention for the second consecutive year.

Leulua'iali'i-Makin is desperate to help his junior club book its ticket to the grand final after stepping on to the Super Rugby stage in his debut season.

But until a few years ago Leulua'iali'i-Makin was known as Les Makin.

Changing it to Leulua'iali'i-Makin wasn't designed to give commentators nightmares. Rather, Leulua'iali'i-Makin wanted to recognise his Samoan mother, Lave, and Canadian father, Joseph, in his name.

Joseph died in 2010 and Leulua'iali'i-Makin always writes his name on his wrist before games.

"It was always something that I wanted to do and it was just the right timing for me to do it a few years ago," Leulua'iali'i-Makin said.

"I've always wanted to use both mum and dad's names because both sides mean a lot to me. So I wanted them both there every time I ran on to the field.

"Mum always said she wanted me to have both names and I got to really appreciate that and how much it meant to me. I wanted to share that with the world.

"It would have been really nice for dad to see me reach the heights that I'm at now."

Leulua'iali'i-Makin will hold up the Whites' front row in a make-or-break clash with the resurgent Eagles as they battle for a spot in the grand final.

The Tuggeranong Vikings are already in their seventh consecutive grand final and are aiming for their fifth premiership in six years.

But the Whites and the Eagles want to take their chance to shake up the competition.

Leulua'iali'i-Makin, Andrew Smith and Robbie Coleman will form the Brumbies contingent at the Whites, while James Dargaville and Josh Mann-Rea will suit up for the Eagles.

Leulua'iali'i-Makin played 10 games for the Brumbies this season to make amends after injury ruined his 2015 campaign.

He was part of the Whites team that was knocked out of the competition when it lost two finals in a row last year.

The Whites lost their clash against the Vikings last week in the major semi-final, while the Eagles are oozing confidence after toppling defending champion Royals to keep their year alive.

"This is a big game for us, we don't take any game lightly," Leulua'iali'i-Makin said.

"There are a lot of high hopes for us this week and we really want to bounce back this week.

"Super Rugby has given me a lot of confidence in my own game and when I come back to club rugby I want to show that. I've played in a losing grand final so I know what that's like and we don't want that feeling again."

The Eagles will welcome back winger and try-scoring weapon Jamie Kotz as they aim to keep their hopes alive.

The Eagles charged into the finals this year, winning six games in a row to set up a battle with Queanbeyan.

"We've definitely got some momentum behind us but it's in the back of my mind that there's no second chance at this," said Eagles coach Dan Atkins.

"It's not a round game, this is it. But we've held strong together for so long now that it's not a surprise we're in this position. We go in confident that we've beaten them and they've beaten us, it will be a good game."

JOHN I DENT CUP PRELIMINARY FINAL

Saturday: Queanbeyan Whites v Gungahlin Eagles at Viking Park, 3.25pm.