The Mustangs share second spot with the Central Coast Crusaders and the two meet at the Maitland Federation Centre in a pivotal game in deciding the play-offs scheduling.

The winner is almost assured second spot and the first week off in the play-offs.

The loser goes back into the mix with the Sydney Comets, Norths Bears and Sutherland Sharks who all have 13 wins to host a final in the opening week.

The Bears have the toughest run home with games against the Sharks, then the Comets and finally top-side Manly Sea Eagles.

The Comets face 10^th placed Canberra, the Bears and then the Mustangs.

"The bench is huge in play-offs and this is where some of the other teams who are playing guys for 38-40 minutes a game are going to struggle," Boyle said.

"It's not feasible to keep running guys like that, even in a normal game it just reduces productivity.

"You don't know who is getting in foul trouble either, having those guys coming out off the bench with confidence if vital. We know that our bench has been tested and can come up trumps.

"The great thing is we are getting a really good contribution from the bench, but if it doesn't happen we can rotate and push the lead back out.

"We hold tie-break advantage over a few side in play-off contention but it's important that we just win out for the rest of the season."