"Anyone doubting just how big the East v West game still is for the two sides only had see the two sides’ responses to the result,” an elated Wests co-skipper Tom Irwin said after the game

“This is a big win for us, no matter where either team is on the ladder beating Easts is always special.”

And so it will be again when the Plovers and Griffins meet on Saturday at East Maitland Park.

The Easts boys would love nothing better than to get revenge for what was a bitter loss for them and on Old Boys Day at home it would be even more sweeter.

Then there is also the matter of upsetting Wests plans to make the semi-finals for the first time since their premiership in 2015-16.

While he has only been part of the East/West rivalry for the past two seasons, Easts co-captain Jack Bennett knows there would be nothing better for the Old Boys than for the current team to beat Wests in Saturday's one-dayer.

The Griffins have improved much since their round four loss to Wests and Bennett said winning their final two games of the season would be a great way to finish the year on a high and consolidate their gains.

Bennett said last Saturday's narrow loss to City United in many ways exemplified how much they had developed as a team.

"We were playing against the top side in the competition and pushed them all the way. It was a tremendous game, although it's hard being on the losing side after such a great effort," he said.

"The growth in the young players like Will Stoneman, Jesse Budden and Sean Gibson has been fantastic.

"Although we can't make the finals now, it would be great to finish the season with a couple of wins."

Coming off an outright win against Port Stephens, victory on Saturday would all but guarantee Wests of a spot in the semi-finals.

”We probably still have to win one more game but if we can get that done we should make finals,” Wests co-skipper Mitchell Fisher said.

“Easts have got a few blokes who can take the match away from you fairly quickly.

“It’s their Old Boys Day as well so we better make sure we bring our best game.

“We don’t want to rely on other results, so if we win our last two we don’t have to worry about anything, we’ll be playing semi-finals.”

Northern Suburbs have no let up in their tough run home coming up against City at Robins Oval.

Victory against City on Saturday would keep them in the hunt for finals action with a last-round encounter against Kurri Weston at Kurri Central to decide their fate.

It's Old Boys day at Kurri Central on Saturday and Kurri Weston can end Raymond Terrace's title defence if they beat them

A Warriors win and Norths loss on Saturday would finalise the make-up of the top four. In Saturday's other game, Port hosts Thornton.

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