More than 200 of the 2500 available tickets had been snapped up by lunch on Monday after going on sale on Sunday afternoon.

Capacity for the game has been lifted from 500 to 2500 people, however strict Covid distancing restrictions will still apply and extra security staff will be employed to ensure people abide by regulations

Fans will be required to be seated in the stands and on the hills and there will be strict adherence in particular of the regulation that anyone drinking alcohol needs to be seated.

The club will learn on Tuesday if last Saturday's postponed games against Cessnock will be held in conjunction with the semi-final.

Games across the Newcastle Rugby League were postponed in a mark of respect for the death of Central Newcastle player Joel Dark who did not recover from a seizure following a head knock in the game between Central and Western Suburbs the previous Sunday

Pickers president Frank Lawler said the club had met the 500 crowd limit at almost every home game this season and was delighted to be able to have expanded numbers for all Pickers fans to get along.

"The team has created all sorts of history this year and is playing a really exciting brand of footy which the fans are loving," Lawler said.

"I think we could well push the capacity number with the interest we've had, but that will require everyone to play their part by just doing the right thing, obeying instructions, respecting other people's space/.

All the precautions have got to be taken. I'm hoping to have a police presence at the game.

People will be required to be seated, even on the hills.

"We urge people to bring blankets and seating along if they plan to sit on the hill which is a great area for families.

"We want everyone to have a good day, do the right thing and respecting everyone else's position on Covid.

"Some people are a bit more casual but there are others who aren't and we ask everyone to respect those people who are cautious and maintain proper distance."

Maitland claimed the President's Cup minor premiership, however, they go into Saturday's semi-final on the back of their first loss of the season.

In what Pickers coach Matt Lantry described as a below-par performance Maitland went down 26-24 in Sydney.

"We played a bit flat and to be honest it's nice to get the monkey off the back so to speak and not have people talk about can you go through the season undefeated," Lantry said.

"The competition is alive and well and for the sides that finished in the top four it's game on. Any side can win if from where they sit.

"We would love a huge crows of Maitland fans to get behind us on Saturday.

"Finals are a completely different ball game and we can expect a really tough game against Hills who pushed us all the way in our game down there earlier in the season."

Tickets to Saturday's semi-final are $5 each and are on sale in advance on the Maitland Pickers Facebook page.

The winner of the Pickers and Bulls semi-final will face the winner from the Glebe and North Sydney semi-final in the grand final at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday, September 27.

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