The Owls secured their place in the top four when they beat Wests 40-12 at Jamison Oval, cementing third place and a play-off spot.

It will be just the second time they've played finals since University and Norths formed a "friends with benefits" club almost 20 years ago.

The chance to chase a John I Dent Cup title will be made even sweeter by the fact University and Norths, both foundation clubs, are celebrating their 80th years.

The Canberra premier rugby finals race will go down to the wire, with Queanbeyan and Gungahlin jostling for the last place in the top four with just one game left in the season.

Queanbeyan has the bye next week, effectively moving them to 48 points after a double bonus-point loss to Royals at Phillip.

They will be left helpless on the sideline, with Gungahlin needing a bonus-point win and a favourable for and against triumph against the Owls next weekend to snatch the play-off spot.

The Owls, however, are safe and celebrated accordingly when coach Tony Doherty told his players they would finish the regular season in third.

It's been so long between finals drinks it caused major confusion. At first it was thought it was the first time the Owls had made the finals. Then adjusted to 2002. But after some more digging, it was revealed their last finals match was in 2001.

None of the Owls players have tasted finals action, and skipper Dave Bennett admitted he thought he'd never get a chance in the play-offs after 10 years at the club.

"The boys are so excited. It's been years in the making, a lot of blood sweat and tears," Bennett said.

"We're in the top four now and it's a new game. There's been some pretty tough periods, but it makes it all the better right now.

"We made the grand final in Colts in my first year and we lost. I haven't made a finals game since and now we've got all premier grades in. It's a big result for the club."

The Owls went on a first-half rampage against Wests and were in a perfect position when they led 19-0 at the break.

Wests showed some fight in the second half, but they were never really close and the Owls sealed a 40-12 triumph.

"The big difference is this year the players have shown up week in, week out and this is the third week in a row we've won Colts, second grade and first grade," Doherty said.

"That's awesome for us. At the start of the year we wanted to make the top four. Now we'll refocus and go from there."

Queanbeyan scored a try three minutes after full-time to get two crucial bonus points against defending premiers Royals for scoring four tries and losing by less than seven points.

Royals won the game 28-24, but Queanbeyan is still alive in the season and will nervously watch Gungahlin's clash against the Owls as they wait to find out their finals fate.

Gungahlin has mounted a late-season revival and can knock Queanbeyan out of the finals if they beat the Owls with a four-try bonus point.

A bonus-point win would draw Gungahlin level with Queanbeyan on competition points and wins, meaning the for-and-against record will separate their finals aspirations.

Gungahlin beat Easts 48-19 on Saturday to move within striking distance and killing Easts' finals chances at the same time.

Meanwhile, Wests coach Craig Robberds played his 200th game for the club on Saturday when the former champion flyhalf ran on to the field in third grade.

Robberds led Wests to the grand final last season, but the side has struggled to recapture the same form this year.

AT A GLANCE

John I Dent Cup: UNI-NORTHS OWLS 40 (Isileli Fa, Stee Tiko, Dan Parete, Tom Gimore, Trent Storen, penalty try tries; Sam Irwin 3 conversions) bt WESTS 12 (Ryan Kiely, Brodie Leber tries; Drew Southwell conversion); ROYALS 28 bt QUEANBEYAN WHITES 24; GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 48 bt EASTS 19.

Women: Tuggeranong 70 bt Gungahlin 5, Uni-Norths Owls 51 bt Royals 0.

Second grade: Royals 22 bt Queanbeyan Whites 17, Uni-Norths Owls 19 bt Wests 5, Gungahlin Eagles 29 bt Easts 19.

Colts: Queanbeyan Whites 38 bt Royals 14, Uni-Norths Owls 34 bt Wests 27, Gungahlin Eagles 29 bt Easts 21.

FIRST DIVISION

First grade: Royals 28 bt Queanbeyan Whites 10, Uni-Norths Owls 33 bt Wests 24, Tuggeranong Vikings 65 Cooma 0, Goulburn 31 bt Hall 0, Young 54 bt Gungahlin Eagles 17.

Second grade: Queanbeyan Whites 67 bt Royals 10,  Wests 20 bt Uni-Norths Owls 0, Tuggeranong 20 bt Cooma 0, Goulburn 73 bt Hall 17.