Women's Premier League flag favourites PINT continued their surge towards another grand final while St Mary's won their 11th game in 12 starts after Round 17 matches were completed in the TIO Northern Territory Football League.
The top four sides are locked into finals football with fifth-placed Nightcliff the only side that can drop out, but that would mean the Tigers losing by a big margin against the sixth-placed Tiwi Bombers in next week's final minor round game.
Top-of-the-ladder PINT beat Nightcliff by 98 points at DXC Arena and St Mary's jumped to second with their come-from-behind win over Waratah at TIO Stadium.
Reigning premier the Darwin Buffettes eased past bottom side Wanderers and the Tiwis beat Palmerston by seven goals to keep their finals flame flickering.
PINT coach Rick Nolan watched his side kick seven goals in each half to beat a Nightcliff side who fell away after an even first quarter.
"We'll be close to injury free and ready to go in the second week of the finals,'' Nolan said with the Queenants set to play the winner of the qualifying final to decide who enters the grand final first.
Amy Chittick's six goals and four-quarter performances from Sarah Ingram and Reni Hicks lead the charge for PINT.
St Mary's have won 11 of their past 12 games since a 0-3 start to the season, Saturday's 13-point over Waratah the latest in the Saints' finals surge.
Coach Paul Magher said his side would be tapering down their training intensity in preparation for the finals.
"We want to protect bodies a little bit, it's been a long and hard tenuous sort of year, so we're at the stage now where we've got to look after ourselves.
"Paula Pavic was good again in the ruck, Emma Mac as well and Danielle Ponter and a few others stepped up with Kaitlyn (Armstrong) a little bit quiet this week.''
The Tiwi women kicked goals in every quarter to beat the Magpies at Cazaly's Arena, Freda Puruntatameri, the consistent Maria Rioli and Nayana Patmore finding a lot of the football in the 10.9 (69) to 4.3 (27) win.
And defending premier the Darwin Buffettes beat the young Eagles by 78 points, the only negative being some more inaccuracy in front of goals where the Buffettes' forward line players kicked 11 goals from 29 scoring shots.
Imahra Cameron, Ebony Miller and key utility Molly Althouse dominated for the double blue jumpers, who will finish fourth where they will play Nightcliff in the February 25 elimination final.
A Round 18 win over Southern Districts by at least 25 goals and a surprise loss by third-placed Waratah at Palmerston is the only opening for a top three berth at Tahs' expense.
