And so it all comes down to this. Well, sort of.
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The Canberra Raiders have already secured a place in the NRL's top four for just the second time in 16 years, but they still don't know who and where they'll play in the first week of the finals.
Canberra can mathematically finish either third, fourth or fifth. The clash between the Roosters and Rabbitohs on Thursday night will have a major bearing on the Raiders finals fixtures.
If the Rabbitohs lose, the Raiders will all but be assured of third place before they start their game against the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday afternoon.
Here are the last-round scenarios.
FINISHING THIRD
Finals clash: Semi-final against Sydney Roosters at SCG
What has to happen:
- Raiders beat the Warriors and the Roosters beat the Rabbitohs
- Raiders beat the Warriors and Rabbitohs beat the Roosters by fewer than 57 points
- Raiders and Rabbitohs both lose
The Raiders will almost certainly finish third if they beat the Warriors, irrespective of other results.
It would set up a week-one finals clash against the Sydney Roosters at the SCG.
The Raiders lost both games against the Roosters during the regular season and haven't beaten the Roosters in Sydney since 2011.
But Ricky Stuart's men will be riding high on confidence if they topple the Warriors, despite resting key players Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, John Bateman and Sia Soliola.
The Raiders could still finish third if they lose against the Warriors, as long as the Roosters beat the Rabbitohs.
The Rabbitohs and Raiders are both on 32 points, but the Raiders have a better points differential by 56.
FINISHING FOURTH
Finals clash: Semi-final against Melbourne Storm at Melbourne
What has to happen:
- Raiders lose to Warriors and Rabbitohs beat the Roosters
If the Raiders lose to the Warriors and South Sydney topple the Roosters, Canberra will drop to fourth.
That scenario sets up a qualifying final date with the Storm in Melbourne at the site of one of Canberra's finest wins in recent memory.
Another dose of the Raiders' stirring win in Melbourne a fortnight ago again books a home preliminary final.
But a loss in week one of the finals will bring the Raiders home to Canberra Stadium for a sudden-death semi-final.
Win that and they advance to a preliminary final in enemy territory. Lose in week two and the dream is over.
For that reason Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is refusing to look too far ahead.
"We haven't really looked past any games this year. We really haven't achieved anything," Nicoll-Klokstad said.
"We have made top four, but lose and then lose again, and you're out of the finals.
"We're training as hard as we can and preparing as best as we can. We're making sure we go really deep into the finals.
"You can't get too far ahead of yourself. Nothing is guaranteed."
FINISHING FIFTH
Finals clash: Knockout against either Brisbane Broncos, Cronulla Sharks or Wests Tigers
What has to happen:
- Raiders lose to Warriors and Rabbitohs thrash Roosters and Manly thrash Parramatta
This is the most unlikely scenario for the Raiders' finals fate.
Canberra has a much better points differential than the Rabbitohs (56 points) and Manly (88 points).
But this is the NRL and strange things happen. For example, if the Raiders were beaten by the Warriors by 20 points, and the Rabbitohs beat the Roosters by 40 AND Manly beat Parramatta by 50, the Raiders would finish fifth.
It almost certainly won't happen. If it does, the Raiders will host a week-one knockout final against whoever finishes eighth: either the Broncos, the Sharks or the Tigers.
MOST LIKELY OUTCOME
Ladder position: Third
Finals clash: Roosters v Raiders at the SCG
The Raiders are favourites to beat the Warriors at Canberra Stadium on Saturday afternoon and the Roosters are favourites to beat the Rabbitohs.
If all goes according to plan, the Raiders will finish third. That means a showdown against the Roosters in week one of the finals, with the winner to advance to the preliminary final.
The Raiders haven't played at the SCG since they lost the 1987 grand final against Manly.
Canberra will host at least one finals match this year. It will be either a preliminary final or a week-two knockout.