But that will be the prize for the winner of the Murray Magpies and Rand-Walbundrie-Walla clash at Walla on Saturday.

For the past six seasons, sixth-placed teams have needed on average 10 wins to qualify.

“It's been hard to follow,'' Maher said.

“I would never have thought eight wins could get you into the top six.

“It probably just comes down to the evenness of the comp.”

While the Magpies have been inconsistent, so have the Giants.

They were terrible against Lockhart a fortnight ago before bouncing back with an impressive 69-point win over CDHBU.

“Last weekend against CDHBU was our first complete performance,” Aalbers said.

“We were pretty disappointed with our showing the week before so the group was looking to make amends.

“The challenge for us is to do it two weeks in a row.”

The top-end talent of both sides will be crucial.

The Magpies were set alight by Daniel Maher last weekend while Josh Maher, Trent Logue, Will McGrath and Josh Senior also shape as key players.

Rand-Walbundrie-Walla has three of the most dangerous forwards in the competition in Aalbers, Todd Miller and Nick Turner and they will be difficult to stop if Ryan Lavery and Justin Gordon take control.

The Magpies are an outside chance of regaining Hayden Edwards from a serious hamstring injury.

“I'm sure they are just as hungry to grab that last spot as we are,” Aalbers said.

“They got us by three points last time so it makes for another close one.”

Howlong will farewell coach Joel Price when the Spiders take on Brock-Burrum.

While Price would need a minor miracle to sneak into the top six, he just wants to finish the season on high note.

“Mathematically we can still make it, but a lot of things would need to happen,” Price said.

“I'm probably just after a positive finish to the year.

“Not a lot has gone right for us and it would be a good way to finish up after four years.”

William Farrer will be a key return from injury for the Spiders after missing last week’s clash with Murray Magpies.