Tuggeranong Vikings scrum-half Joe Powell is determined to use the finals series of the John I Dent Cup as an audition process for the Brumbies No. 9 jersey next year.
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The Brumbies are struggling to replace departing scrum-half Nic White, and Powell is one candidate for the job after making three appearances for the Brumbies this season.
While trying to push Tuggeranong to a fifth straight premiership and building towards August's National Rugby Championship, Powell will have the extra motivation of a potential Super Rugby starting spot.
"I'll use the rest of the current club season to push my case and show that I can step up to that," Powell said. "How I go in the NRC will determine whether I get it or not. If I play well enough I'll be a shot for it."
Tuggeranong coach Brad Harris is certainly confident in Powell's ability and is hopeful his quest for a starting spot will help the Vikings' finals push.
"I'm looking for a big game from Joe this week. He's certainly grown from that Brumbies experience," Harris said. "He's a really tough competitor that can be a great player."
After securing their sixth straight minor premiership this season, the Vikings enter the finals looking like the team to beat, a view not supported by Harris.
"There's obviously that perception out there, but Queanbeyan beat us the first time and in the second game we were pretty lucky to hold on," Harris said.
"Finals football is a whole new competition and if we underestimate any of the opposition teams that could hurt us."
The other three teams in the finals will certainly be out to do just that, with all of them feeling confident in their chances of winning the premiership.
The sentiment among the coaches has very much been that finals football is a new competition and the best team on the day will progress, irrespective of regular season performance.
"Finals series are all about being patient and working hard to achieve outcomes," Queanbeyan coach Adam Fahey said. "We're quietly confident, we're pretty happy within ourselves with where we're at. The four teams in the finals are all capable and have earned that right to play finals footy. It's definitely not a Queanbeyan and Tuggeranong show."
JOHN I DENT CUP
Saturday: Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites at Vikings Park, 3.25pm
Sunday: Wests v Royals at Vikings Park, 3.15pm
