Rather than pussyfoot around, Fitzhenry yesterday laid on the line the importance of toppling the Tigers on their hallowed turf.

"It's a massive game," Fitzhenry said yesterday.

"The winner gets a home-ground advantage for the semi-final. That's huge."

The succinct assessment is as accurate as it is defining one week out from the Group Nine finals.

As much as Southcity will head to the hills in top spot on the table, the team will be knocked off the perch if beaten by Gundagai.

The Tigers are currently in second place, two points behind Southcity, and have a superior percentage to the Bulls.

A victory by even the barest margin will enable Gundagai to jump ahead of Southcity on the ladder - clinching the minor premiership and a home final in the process.

In a classic case of double jeopardy, Southcity and Gundagai will have to back up on September 11 in the major semi-final at either Harris Park or Anzac Park, depending on Sunday's verdict. Desperate to avoid playing the Tigers at home for a place in the grand final, Fitzhenry said Southcity will have to be at its peak on Sunday.

"(Gundagai) will be throwing everything at us and we have to throw everything at them to have any sort of chance," Fitzhenry said.

"(Gundagai) has been the form team of the competition for the past few weeks and it's going to be a very hard task." Despite acknowledging the strike-power of Gundagai captain-coach James Smart and the danger of second rower Bryan Robert and Fijians Menzies Seumanutafa and Fetongi Tuinauvai, the Bulls skipper has no intention of singling out any players for special attention on Sunday.