Rugby League: Finals arrive early for Pickers on two fronts - Maitland Sportsground chosen to host President's Cup semi, top-of-the-table clash against North Sydney Bears

Maitland can wrap up the President's Cup minor premiership with victory at home but regardless of the result from the penultimate round, the men in black and white have already been allocated a play-off fixture.

NSW Rugby League officials have opted to split the top-four encounters between city and country venues to best represent the statewide nature of the competition, which was formed out of the coronavirus crisis.

The other sudden-death match has been scheduled for Leichhardt Oval on September 19 with the winners progressing to a decider at Parramatta the following Sunday.

"Games were allocated on the basis of wanting to recognise the contribution of regional teams to the competition so one game was allocated to regional NSW and the other to the Sydney metropolitan area," a NSWRL representative said.

"There were only three games that could be allocated and Bankwest Stadium had already been locked in for the grand final."

The Pickers (14 points) can finish anywhere between first and third on the ladder depending on how they go against upcoming opponents North Sydney (12) and Glebe Burwood (11) in the last round.

Wests Illawarra (9), Hills, Thirroul (8) and Dubbo (6) are battling to stay alive.

Lantry just wants to ensure Maitland continue building momentum at the right end of the campaign.

"We're pretty close to finals footy and if we win one more game we're guaranteed of finishing top two," the mentor said.

"What I'd really like is a semi-final type performance over 80 minutes."

Pickers centre Matt Soper-Lawler (quad) will likely be out of action with Henry Penn shifting across from the second-row, Cooper Jenkins now starting and Marvin Filipo coming onto the bench after a two-week ban.

Sam Anderson returns after a month-long break for concussion and replaces Pat Mata'utia (concussion), who will need to play next weekend in order to qualify for finals having only featured for the first time last round.

Kick-off is 1pm.

Elsewhere in the President's Cup and Hills visit Wests Illawarra, Thirroul travel to Dubbo while Glebe Burwood meet Western. Wentworthville have the bye.

In the NSW Women's Premiership and Central Coast have earned this weekend off as minor premiers but meet Cronulla at Campbelltown Stadium on September 12 for a chance to make the grand final.

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