They'd just knocked off the second-placed Roos in Dubbo and leapt into the Blowes Clothing Cup's top three. The Lions were ready to roar in the finals.

Now, they're going to have to make some noise a little bit earlier.

Orange City takes on Forbes in the final round of the 2020 regular season at Pride Park on Saturday and it looks as though the winner will play finals.

Forbes' stunning upset over defending champions Bathurst has snuck the Platypi (16 points) to within striking distance of both the Dogs (19 points) and City (20 points).

The Bulldogs will play finals, though, with a last round bye guaranteeing them five competition points and, at the very least, fourth spot on the ladder.

But with four points separating the Lions and Platypi, it's just about finals footy a week early.

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The Platypi will need a bonus point win to guarantee a spot in the top four, while also ensuring they don't let City sneak in any bonus points of their own.

However, a Lions victory will assure them a spot in third, which is the goal, and a shot a Roos back over in Dubbo again. Fourth will play the minor premiers, Emus.

This year's finals, in all grades, is win or your out, basically.

We saw that last week when Molong dipped out in the first week of the Oilsplus Cup.

A week after knocking off then competition leaders Coolah 19-0, the Magpies led in their elimination semi-final against Coonabarabran only to lose 21-16 at the death and bow out of the 2020 season.

The Kookas will host this year's third tier decider, with Blayney their opposition following the Rams' commanding 37-12 triumph over Coolah.

It seems odd for a side running second on the ladder, but Roos' form heading into the finals has to be in question.

Not because of a lack of class - the Dubbo side is full of quality players and any team would love the likes of McHugh, Pauta and young-gun fullback Blake.

But Dubbo hasn't tasted victory in almost a month - a stretch that could well continue into week one of the finals after they host ladder leaders Emus this Saturday.

Not since sneaking past Forbes in the final game of the first round - a 31-29 win many at the Platypi say they were unlucky to drop - have Roos chalked up a victory.

Snow ruled out their round six trip to Bathurst, they then dropped a heart-stopper against the Lions, last week Roos has a week off due to a scheduled bye and looking ahead this week play Emus in the last regular season round.

Could Roos head into week one of the finals without a win under their belt since the first round? It's a very real chance. Saturday's clash with Emus at Dubbo is a huge one for their confidence.