Presidents Cup: The heat is on for Pickers ahead of huge month

But Maitland Pickers coach Matt Lantry knows the next month of football will tell where his side is really at leading into the semi finals.

Consider this: the top half of the President's Cup ladder currently reads Maitland on 10 points from four wins and a bye, followed by North Sydney, Glebe Burwood Wolves, Western Suburbs and Thirroul, all on 8 points.

So who does Maitland play next?

In order, Thirroul (away), Western Suburbs (home), North Sydney (home) and Glebe Burwood (away).

It's showtime.

"Yeah, a tough month coming up," Lantry admitted.

"It's funny, on the bus going down to play Wentworthville for the opening game I was sitting beside [club president] Frank Lawler and we were having self doubts, have we bitten off more than we can chew here," Lantry said.

"Now we know we can play at this level, we deserve to be here, but the sides are really starting to sort themselves out now.

"Hills, for example, are strong right across the park, but they've lost two in a row and now suddenly sit outside the top four.

"You can't afford to slip up.

"So realistically, to finish in the top two and get a home final, which is the goal, we'll need to win three of the next four."

Starting with Thirroul on Saturday, who are coming off a tough 18-12 win over Hills, a team Lantry clearly respects.

The trip away, while daunting originally, now hold no fears for Maitland.

"It's the opposite actually," Lantry explained. "Those couple of hours on the bus together, especially after the game when the boys are having a beer or two, it has been the best thing for us.

"They've got to know each other and enjoy each other's company. There's a really good feeling in the side."

The coach believes that was best illustrated in the second half against Western Rams last weekend.

"We were leading easily, maybe 40 to 4 or something like that, and they nearly scored in the corner.

"We had three defenders come across and force them into touch just short of the corner post. The whole side rushed across to congratulate them on the effort.

"We played very well, but nothing in that whole game pleased me more than seeing that."

In the absence of influential injured prop Sam Anderson young guns Cal Burgess and Cooper Jenkins both stood up to support Jayden Butterfield and James Taylor in the middle of the park.

Taylor, incidentally, who joined from Redcliffe Dolphins this year, has signed a new contract and will be with the club again next season.

Lantry is clearly pleased.

"He's a brilliant leader, really powerful and just a tough, uncompromising front-rower," he said.