Incredibly, heading into the final month of this year's Group 10 premier league regular season eight of the nine sides can still mathematically make the finals, with Blayney the only team ruled out through 14 rounds.
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Bathurst Panthers and Orange Hawks are guaranteed finals berths while Mudgee and Lithgow will feature as well unless disaster strikes, with Cowra, CYMS, St Pat's and Oberon locked in a fierce, four-way battle for the last available finals spot.
This year's title race is as close as any in recent memory, there's already been a number of surprises and no doubt we're in store for more.
Check out who your side faces in the last month of the year and what they'll need to do to feature in the finals, and their predicted finishes following the regular season too.
BATHURST PANTHERS (first; 26 points) - Lithgow Workies (away), Blayney Bears (away), Cowra Magpies (home), Oberon Tigers (away)
My report from Saturday's win over Hawks alluded to Panthers having one hand on the minor premiership, but that's only because match reports need to be objective.
My opinion is different, as far as I'm concerned you may as well give the men in black the minor title now because they won't lose to Blayney, Cowra or Oberon.
This weekend's trip to Lithgow is the danger game, in more ways than one.
If Panthers win all is well and nothing really changes but if Workies win, well, suddenly the men in black aren't quite as formidable and Lithgow have all the confidence in the world.
Best get down to Tony Luchetti Sportsground this weekend because that battle, particularly in the forwards, will be one to behold.
PREDICATED FINISH: Minor premiers
ORANGE HAWKS (second; 24 points) - Blayney Bears (away), Lithgow Workies (home), Bathurst St Pat's (away), Orange CYMS (away)
Unless something goes drastically wrong for the two blues in the final month of the season, Hawks will finish second and host the qualifying semi in the opening week of the 2019 finals.
The two blues' shot at the minor premiership looks to have gone begging with Saturday's loss to defending premiers Bathurst Panthers but Hawks were in it up to their eyeballs, and they've proven they're capable by beating the men in black earlier this year.
Willie Heta's men have, for the most part, been superb in 2019 and they shouldn't have much trouble getting the job done against Blayney or Bathurst St Pat's.
You'd tip them to beat CYMS too while, like Panthers, Workies look to be their biggest challenge.
While I'm tipping Lithgow to knock off a couple of the top sides in their run home Hawks will start that game as favourites, and there is a good chance they could win all four of their remaining games and go into the finals with a massive head of steam.
PREDICTED FINISH: Second
MUDGEE DRAGONS (third; 20 points) - Bathurst St Pat's (home), Cowra Magpies (away), Orange CYMS (away), Lithgow Workies (home)
They'll feature in the finals although there's still the tiniest of mathematical chances they could miss out, and while they don't have the toughest of draws to finish the regular season their trip to Cowra looks an imposing one.
It's a long trip for the Dragons and they'll face a Magpies side still fighting for survival come round 16, the swoopers are substantially better at Sid Kallas Oval than they are on the road as well.
They have lost their last two games but those defeats came at the hands of Hawks then Panthers and, following last weekend's bye, you wouldn't expect St Pat's to trouble Jack Littlejohn's men too much, not at Glen Willow Sporting Complex anyway.
One would think who does and doesn't play for CYMS will be a huge factor in the Dragons' round 17 trip to Wade Park while, like Panthers and Hawks, Mudgee faces a danger game in Lithgow.
Considering they're two points ahead of Workies and are likely to win at least two of their last four games, it's tough to see Mudgee moving from third, either way.
PREDICTED FINISH: Third
LITHGOW WORKIES (fourth; 18 points) - Bathurst Panthers (home), Orange Hawks (away), BYE, Mudgee Dragons (away)
Can you say dark horse?
Lithgow are the danger side, and that's not something I thought I'd write, even after watching Workies beat CYMS in round five.
That was their first win of 2019 and even they, to be completely honest, I thought they'd end up also-rans this season - although they did have a lot of injuries through that period.
I'm happy to admit I haven't just tucked into a slice of humble pie, I've scoffed the whole bloody thing, the Workies have roared back into this title race, sending shockwaves through the competition with six wins on the trot.
With monstrous match-ups against Panthers, Hawks and Mudgee in the final month, with a bye thrown in, they certainly have the toughest run home of any team in the competition.
But you know what, I don't think they'll care about that.
If anything considering their recent run of form they'll welcome the three toughest contests 2019 has to offer, with two of those being on the road it'll be a fair gauge as to what they'll need to do come finals time.
Are they a premiership side? I'm not sure just yet.
They have proven me wrong once already this year though and if they happen to knock off a couple of the competition's heavyweights leading into the finals, well, the proof will be in the pudding - or another helping of humble pie, in this case.
PREDICTED FINISH: Fourth
COWRA MAGPIES (fifth; 14 points) - Oberon Tigers (home), Mudgee Dragons (home), Bathurst Panthers (away), BYE
They've had a reasonably tough season for a side that's sitting fifth, and there's no doubt Josh Rainbow's retirement and Jeremy Gordon missing the opening half of the season hurt last year's beaten grand finalists monumentally.
They've worked their way back into the season and they've won their last three games to shoot into the top five, the last victory being a 40-12 dismantling of the injury-ravaged CYMS.
Gordon's the linchpin here.
The likes of Blake Tidswell, Joey Bugg and Warren Williams all play a big role in Cowra's success but it appears as though Gordon's playing through injury, and if he's not at his scintillating best the Magpies do lack potency.
I'm loathe to suggest it all comes down to him because the swoopers have a strong supporting cast around him, but it's been shown before if he's fit and firing they can contend with anyone.
If he's not... well, you get the picture I think.
PREDICTED FINISH: Fifth
ORANGE CYMS (sixth; 12 points) - BYE, Bathurst St Pat's (home), Mudgee Dragons (home), Orange Hawks (home)
The bye will do wonders in terms of their injury toll - the week off will be a blessing for a side missing almost a dozen regular first graders - and their last three games being at home is a big help too.
Their injured stars will trickle back over the last part of the season and you'd expect them to beat St Pat's but with Mudgee and Hawks in the last fortnight, it's tough to see CYMS sneaking back into the five.
At their best they can match it with anyone, but for me their injuries have just taken too big a toll and it's tough to predict them making a late run for the finals considering that.
PREDICTED FINISH: Seventh
OBERON TIGERS (seventh; 12 points) - Cowra Magpies (away), BYE, Blayney Bears (home), Bathurst Panthers (home)
They have battled in recent weeks, but the return of Josh Starling will make a huge difference and I get the feeling last weekend's win over St Pat's - which snapped a five-game losing streak - might be somewhat of a turning point.
In fact that might have come a week prior with their performance against Orange Hawks, although they still lost that game.
They will beat Blayney in round 17 and depending on what happens this weekend at Cowra, their last-round clash against Panthers might end up being a massive one.
They're playing for their life now though and they'll have to beat Cowra at Cowra this weekend to have a chance. Certainly possible, although the Magpies have hit form.
PREDICTED FINISH: Sixth
BATHURST ST PAT'S (eighth; 10 points) - Mudgee Dragons (away), Orange CYMS (away), Orange Hawks (home), Blayney Bears (away)
Mathematically they can still make the finals but that mountain's too big for the Saints to climb, and they'll only avoid the wooden spoon thanks to the battling Blayney.
They should beat the Bears in the final round although I'd expect, based on their season so far, that will be the only win they'll pick up in the final month.
They might fancy their chances against CYMS in round 17 too, but I can't see them beating Mudgee on the road or Hawks, even though the latter's at Jack Arrow Oval.
PREDICTED FINISH: Eighth
BLAYNEY BEARS (ninth; four points) - Orange Hawks (home), Bathurst Panthers (home), Oberon Tigers (away), Bathurst St Pat's (home)
I'd love to be able to say Blayney were in still in contention, it's great being able to write about a small-town team like the Bears grizzling their way to finals against the odds.
I'd love to even be able to write about them potentially causing some upsets over the last month but, without intending to be too harsh, it won't happen.
They have the benefit of three home games in their last four and their best chance is against St Pat's in the final round. It'd be great to see them finish another tough campaign on a high, but they're at long odds to do it.
PREDICTED FINISH: Wooden spoon
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