There are just two NRL games on the weekend this week as four clubs take centre stages as they try to remain in the hunt for the premiership.
Canberra suffered an agonising golden point defeat in their qualifying final against Brisbane, but must now pick themselves up and go again as they welcome Cronulla to the nation's capital.
The Sharks got the better of the Sydney Roosters in their elimination final and Craig Fitzgibbon's side are sure to be in a confident mood when they take on the Raiders.
On Sunday, Penrith will attempt to keep their incredible golden run going when they square off against Canterbury.
The four-time reigning premiers knocked off New Zealand in Auckland last week and now come up against the Dogs, who were beaten by the Melbourne Storm during their qualifying final.
The Sporting News delivers its predictions and best bets for the semi-finals in the NRL below — all odds per bookmaker Sportsbet.
MORE: NRL injury list | NRL draw, fixtures | NRL ladder, standings
Raiders vs. Sharks prediction, tip, best bet
Canberra have made GIO Stadium a fortress during their rise this year and looked set to notch up their eighth win in a row on home soil last week as they put the Broncos to the sword.
However, Reece Walsh had other ideas as the No.1 returned from the sin-bin late in the piece to orchestrate a stunning comeback that left Ricky Stuart's outfit stunned.
Brisbane scored three tries in the last 15 minutes of regular time to eat away the Raiders' advantage before eventually toppling the minor premiers in dramatic circumstances.
How will they respond to such a heartbreaking defeat when they all but booked their place into the prelims? It's hard to predict.
What isn't in doubt though is that the Green Machine have struggled to keep out the opposition on their right edge of defence.
Walsh sliced through Jamal Fogarty and Matt Timoko to kickstart Brisbane's comeback before the fullback produced a cut-out pass to send Josiah Karapani over shortly afterwards.
A sweeping move from coast to coast then ended in Gehamat Shibasaki crossing over untouched.
This comprehensive dismantling of Canberra's defence will have had KL Iro and Ronaldo Mulitalo watching on intrigued, while Braydon Trindall will also likely be weighing up a potential dummy-and-run close to the line.
Mulitalo has four tries in six games against the Raiders and looked to be in impressive touch against the Chooks.
Meanwhile, the centre lining up against Timoko has regularly found his way to the tryline this season and Iro will be keen to get over after previously scoring in nine consecutive games at the start of the year before injury struck.
The Sharks, on the other hand, will have to be on high alert to keep out Ethan Strange and Hudson Young.
The five-eighth has now scored for four matches in a row, with his left step causing all sorts of headaches for rivals, while Young snapped an eight-game try-scoring drought against the Broncos.
The backrower bagged a double against the Sharks in Round 5, which capped one of his best displays to date this year.
Prediction: Raiders by 4
Best bet: KL Iro anytime tryscorer ($3.00)
Bulldogs vs. Panthers prediction, tip, best bet
Can Penrith keep their incredible winning streak alive when they head to Accor Stadium to take on the Dogs?
Ivan Cleary's side have strung together 13 victories in a row in the finals during their domination over the competition.
In trying conditions across the ditch last week, they were put to the test before Nathan Cleary led them to the win with his kicking game. The halfback will be right at the forefront of the Panthers' charge once again.
Cleary challenged the Warriors' line on several occasions and could look for his running game to help tear the Bulldogs apart.
Casey McLean will also be only too happy to get in on this, with the centre in red-hot touch.
Since he crossed for a double in Round 20 against South Sydney to snap a four-game try-scoring drought, the teenager has been close to unstoppable.
He has touched down in seven of his past eight appearances, with three two-try hauls included in that.
In what is likely to be a relatively low-scoring match, which is fancied to go under the total line (39.5 points), the New Zealand international will be a weapon Cleary and Blaize Talagi are sure to call upon time and time again.
Prediction: Panthers by 8
Best bet: Nathan Cleary anytime tryscorer ($3.80)