A three-week layoff has left the Belconnen United Sharks' finals hopes hanging by a thread ahead of Sunday's crunch clash with ladder leaders Gungahlin.
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The Sharks haven't played since mid-July thanks to the Canberra Raiders Cup being washed out two weeks ago, and an unfortunate bye last weekend.
It's left the sixth-placed Sharks just four rounds to overhaul a three-point deficit keeping them out of the top four with games against fellow playoff chasers Goulburn and West Belconnen still to come, but a win against the Bulls would reignite their finals charge.
"They've got some very good middles, they've obviously got back some of the Raiders boys as well as their backs," Sharks centre Sam Wentworth said ahead of the Bulls match.
"Last time we played them they put three tries on us late, their backs can really score from anywhere.
"They are top of the ladder for a reason, for us it's just focusing on ourselves. When we play good footy in patches, we can beat anyone.
"We have been focusing on our fundamental things that haven't gone right for us, having two weeks off to rest and recover, going into this weekend we are right and ready to go."
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Wentworth said the Sharks had taken full advantage of their lengthy layoff.
"We've been jumping in the pool doing a couple of weight sessions, and getting a bit of conditioning into us has really helped," Wentworth said.
"I think going into this weekend we are right and ready to go."
Gungahlin can wrap up a top-two finish with a win over the Sharks on Sunday, as can the Queanbeyan Blues if they beat Yass.
"They've got a couple of good players and some big forwards through the middle," Bulls prop Zac Patch said.
"You can't write the Sharks off, they've got talent. Hopefully, we'll get a good run over them this weekend and look ahead to finals."
Canberra Raiders Cup round 15: Yass Magpies v Queanbeyan Blues at Walker Park, 3pm; Tuggeranong Bushrangers v Woden Valley Rams at Greenway Oval, 3pm; Queanbeyan Kangaroos v Goulburn City Bulldogs at Freebody Oval, 3pm; Gungahlin Bulls v Belconnen United Sharks at Gungahlin Enclosed, 3pm Sunday