A ST Pat's and Lithgow Panthers women's Premier League Hockey decider for the second consecutive year - that is how Souths coach Chris Stafford sees this season's finals series playing out.
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Souths finished the regular season eight points outside the top four in sixth place, but Stafford was still bold enough to offer an opinion on those who remain in contention.
While Orange CYMS have lost just two games to date - one of them to Souths - and finished four points clear on top of the ladder, Stafford feels that if they can not beat the Saints in this Saturday's major semi-final they won't make the decider.
He also feels that Lithgow Panthers will account for Confederates in the minor semi-final and go on to play in their eighth consecutive women's grand final.
"To be honest, I know CYMS have ended up minor premiers, but they're really going to have to make the most of their turf," he said.
"I honestly see Pat's and Panthers as the two strongest teams in there, that's who I would be tipping for a grand final.
"CYMS, in Orange, in a major semi and that turf, it is always going to be hard.
"But if CYMS don't win the major semi against Pat's, if CYMS don't win that, I don't think they make the grand final.
"But that's just going off when we've played them, obviously they've won the minor premiership, so they've done something right.
"I think Panthers are just building nicely too."
