On Saturday it's former Raiders and Storm forward Troy Thompson guiding West Belconnen into a sudden-death semi-final against Lincoln Withers and David Howell's Gungahlin Bulls.

On Sunday Simon Woolford's Queanbeyan Blues will look to move into a fourth consecutive grand final against Aaron Gorrell's Queanbeyan Kangaroos at Freebody Oval.

The experience shows. The Kangaroos snapped a 25-year premiership drought upon Gorrell's arrival in 2010, and won another two competitions in the next three years.

Woolford has now lifted the trophy two years running on grand final day.

Withers and Howell were named coaches of the year after taking Gungahlin to the finals for the first time in six years, and Thompson continues to steer West Belconnen's resurgence.

Although Gorrell and Woolford enjoy a friendly rivalry, the Kangaroos mentor won't be caught in the niggling act ahead of the local derby.

But it's a completely different picture leading into Saturday's minor semi-final.

Knowing his side was going to play Gungahlin this weekend, Thompson thought he would head out to its round 18 clash last Friday night to take some notes on the opposition.

Withers was having none of that.

"He rang me on game day and said 'What time do you play tonight?' and I said it actually got changed to Saturday," Withers said with a laugh.

"I didn't want him coming down sticking his nose around so that was a bit of a laugh. He must have took my word for it, so that was good."

Thompson said he was "a bit filthy" on his ex-teammate and will no doubt be seeking revenge.

The match serves as a mini Raiders reunion with Thompson and his right-hand man Matt Gafa to face their former NRL teammates Withers and Howell.

"Lincs one of my good mates and so is David," Thompson said.

"I used to live with David for three or four years. Matty Gafa's been my next-door neighbour in Giralang for twenty-something years, so we're all good mates.

"It's a pity that we didn't come second and then play them in the grand final. It's going to be a tough game, but it's pretty special, though, that the four of us are going to be competing in the local comp together."

Gorrell says local rugby league is lucky to have such an embarrassment of riches in the coaching ranks.

"[It's great] to be able to have young kids coming through and have the blokes like that teaching them," he said.

The Kangaroos are blessed with a mix of old heads and youthful exuberance that has prospered under Gorrell's watchful eye.

"To see how far they've come from the start of the year from being blokes that you're happy to use here and there into full-time first graders that could still play under 18s [is fantastic]," Gorrell said.

CANBERRA RAIDERS CUP

Saturday: Minor semi-final – West Belconnen Warriors v Gungahlin Bulls at Raiders Belconnen, 3.15pm.

Sunday: Major semi-final – Queanbeyan Kangaroos v Queanbeyan Blues at Freebody Oval, 3.15pm.