A grand final berth, elimination from the finals race or a last-gasp preliminary final appearance are the gains and losses on offer for Women's Premier League sides PINT, Waratah, St Mary's and the Darwin Buffettes this weekend.
The PINT Queenants and Waratah meet in the 2.15pm second semi-final knowing a win will launch them into the March 18 Big Dance where the 2022/23 season's riches are on offer.
The green and gold of PINT won 15 of their 16 minor round games leading into the finals, a 25-point loss to St Mary's mid season the only blemish on an otherwise impressive warmup for the 2020/21 TIO NTFL premiers.
Coach Rick Nolan said the minor premiership and a 94 per cent winning record would mean nothing when the ball was bounced to start the major semi-final.
"This game is the real deal, it's what you train seven months for and it's right now,'' Nolan added.
"Waratah has got some very good players, so we'll have to be at our best to beat them without Reni Hicks and Anna Traill, who will miss with other commitments.''
PINT has several players of their own who can win a game off their own boot, Sarah Ingram around the ball, Jasmyn Hewett in the ruck and forwards Steph Lawrence and Amy Chittick will come under close watch from the Waratah brainstrust.
Waratah coach Heidi Thompson said her players were keen to show their wares against a PINT side that brushed them aside by eight and seven goals on the two occasions they met this season.
"The players are pretty excited and looking forward to the challenge ahead of us with a well balanced side that won't have a lot of changes,'' Thompson said.
"The girls played really well in the wet last week and we're confident we can give this game a red hot go as well.''
St Mary's and reigning premier the Darwin Buffettes put their seasons on the line when they meet in the lunchtime first semi-final.
With mothballs the prize for the loser and a start in the preliminary final for the winner, both sides will throw everything into the cut-throat elimination match that kicks off at 12.15pm.
Saints' first year coach Paul Magher put his side's 11-point loss to Waratah in the first week of the finals after winning 12 of 13 games coming into the match as one of lost opportunity.
"It was still a game at three quarter-time, we could have won it and we're pretty confident we've got the Buffettes after watching them play the last couple of games,'' he said.
"I don't think they're as strong as they were when we played them after Christmas and we'll let that one (qualifying final loss) go and move forward this week.''
Buffettes coach Mel Taylor wants her side to maintain their team philosophy where every player makes a contribution.
"We'll have much the same side that beat Nightcliff last week and it's important we continue to play as a team if we want to continue our finals success from last season,'' Taylor said.
Semi-Final One: St Mary's v Darwin Buffettes at TIO Stadium, 12.15pm on Saturday, broadcast live via NT News/ KommunityTV
Semi-Final Two: PINT v Waratah at TIO Stadium, 2.15pm on Saturday, broadcast live via NT News/ KommunityTV and on the ABC Listen App.
