Only eight points separate fourth-placed Leeton from eighth-placed Tumut and few results are assured in what shapes as a blockbuster month of Football Wagga action.

It’s exactly the situation Football Wagga president Tony Dobbin had envisaged for the competition – teams fighting it out at the death for finals qualification.

“We changed from the original format of Cup and Plate finals this year and it’s been a really positive change,” Dobbin said.

“There’s always going to be one or two teams at the top, but through the mid-section it’s a week-by-week proposition.

“Rather than six teams fighting for the top four like last year, we’re now looking at eight teams with a genuine shot at the six finals positions.”

The revised finals structure offers a rest to the minor premiers and runners up in the first week, but that’s where the benefits of regular season dominance ends.

Third plays sixth and fourth plays fifth in the semi finals with the winners set take on the rested top teams in the preliminary finals to determine who gets a ticket to the big dance.

Dobbin was confident the change had incentivised lower-ranked teams who would be out of finals contention under the old model.

Under the current format, Dobbin sees teams as low as sixth bursting into the grand final with just two knockout wins.

“We’re at the business end of the comp now and teams that would usually be condemned to playing Plate and not really trying at this point are turning up to training and pushing harder,” he said.

“The opportunities are still there for teams ranked sixth, seventh and eighth to secure their spot … and even sides like South Wagga and Junee can mix things up with a few surprise wins.

“Goal difference also becomes a big factor and that puts a real emphasis on scoring as many goals and possible and playing an attacking brand of football.”

Only Lake Albert and Tolland are mathematical certainties to play finals at this stage.

The Sharks are just one win from wrapping up the minor premiership after serving up a 6-0 thrashing against fourth-placed Leeton last weekend and sit nine points clear of Tolland, whom they face this weekend.

The Wolves could still reel them in and clinch top spot should they triumph in their table-topping clash on Sunday and have the Sharks lose their three remaining games, but that’s an unlikely situation given Lake Albert’s form and the 6-2 loss in their previous encounter.

Behind them, third-placed Henwood Park are surging into the finals off the back of a 6-0 drubbing over fifth-placed Young Lions, who sit just behind Leeton.

Wagga United and Cootamundra occupy sixth and seventh places respectively after playing out a gritty 1-all draw last weekend and remain genuine contenders for the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, Tumut kept their slim finals hopes alive with a 4-0 win over Junee but must rely on United and Cootamundra dropping their remaining games if they’re to feature in September.

South Wagga and Junee are the only sides that can’t qualify for the finals, however, the former are uniquely positioned to meddle with their rivals’ finals aspirations.

The Warriors face Cootamundra, Wagga United and Tumut in their next three games and could wreck havoc with an upset win.

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