But standing in their way is a Cootamundra side high on confidence, having downed Tolland on Sunday, just one week after Wolves had firmly established themselves as the in-form side of the competition.

Sharks sit three spots ahead of fifth-placed Cootamundra, but are not expecting an easy win in the grand final rematch.

The Wagga-based side will be forced to play with a decimated midfield, with Duncan Brodie, Christie Williams and Cam Mavor all unable to play.

Making matters worse for Lake Albert, the game is slated to be played at Cootamundra’s notoriously raucous O’Connor Park.

Sharks coach Michael Babic said his side was bracing themselves for a taxing battle.

“It’s always a tough game against Coota,” he said.

“We have a good little rivalry going with them and they always get fired up in front of their home crowd.

“They’re a very committed team and we expect that every tackle they go in for, they’ll go in trying to win it.”

Babic said that while scoring was rarely a problem for his team, which averages 4.31 goals per game, maintaining a stingy defence would be crucial.

“We conceded a lot of goals in big games lately, including five (against Henwood Park) last week,” he said.

“You aren’t going to win too many games who you give up five goals.

“Defending is our first priority because we know we can always score goals.”

On the other side of the ledger, Cootamundra sits four points behind fourth-placed Leeton and must come out on top to have any chance of playing finals, while also praying United lose to ninth-placed Junee at Burns Park on Saturday night.  

Strikers will be without co-coach Brent Farnsworth, who will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

They will also be missing youngster Tyler Allen, but hope Caylum Barber will make his return to the side after playing for Wagga City Wanderers last week.

Meanwhile, Tolland will attempt to bounce back from last week's surprising 1-0 loss to Cootamundra when it travels to Tumut on Sunday.

Henwood Park will look to extend its two point lead on the rest of the competition when it faces Young at Gus Smith Oval in a battle of first versus worst.