Tigers will have to do it the hard way if they are to claim this year's premiership after going down to the Swans in Saturday's qualifying final, 12.4 (76) to 7.9 (51) at Narrandera Sportsground.

They will play the winner of Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes in the first semi-final at Kindra Park next Sunday.

Wagga Tigers coach Troy Maiden believes his team's ball use let them down badly in the latest loss to the Swans.

"I just think our ball use going forward at times, we played into their hands a bit," Maiden said.

"They roll numbers back and we just kept bombing away to them, which allowed (Jordan) Iudica and those guys to chop it off across half-back. We've just got to be better with our ball use."

He also said a couple of crucial misses on goal, particularly early, did not help his team's cause.

"You look at the scoreboard, we've had the same amount of scoring shots," he said.

"We miss a couple of easy ones early, we kick those and it probably puts a different dynamic on the game so that's a little bit disappointing."

Tigers are all but certain to welcome back imposing ruckman Tom Osmotherly for next Sunday's sudden-death final after he sat the game out with a dislocated shoulder.

But it looks likely they will lose defender Pat Gaynor, after he limped off with a knee injury late in the second quarter.

"He's hurt his knee. He'll get a scan on Monday and we'll know more then," he said.

"It's really disappointing for him."

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