'It'll go off like a frog in a sock': John I Dent Cup finals begin

"It'll go off like a frog in a sock," the Tuggeranong Vikings back-rower said.

Because in any other year the minor premiership-winning Vikings would get a second bite at the cherry - but 2020 has hardly been an ordinary campaign.

A revamped schedule pits the top four teams in sudden death semi-finals this weekend. The equation is simple: win and move on, lose and go home.

Tuggeranong will host the star-studded Gungahlin Eagles at Viking Park on Saturday from 3.30pm. The second-placed Uni-Norths Owls meet the Canberra Royals at ANU North Oval from 3.15pm.

MORE RUGBY UNION

Good luck picking the favourites this week. Gungahlin put 62 unanswered points on Royals in their last start. Tuggeranong put 49 on Uni-Norths.

"Every team is the same, every team was rough at the start of the season, especially with the shambles COVID-19 provided," Gersekowski said.

"We weren't sure if we were going to play or not, but we still stuck to it and trained as if we were going to get a season.

"It's been an up and down season, and where it counts, these last few games, we have started to put some phases together and score some points.

"You don't know what the John I Dent is going to throw up. Having those boys come back for Gungahlin, it really threw a spanner in the works.

"You can see from the score they put on Royals, no one expected it. They've got great players, [Matt] Giteau, [Mack] Hansen, [Issak] Fines, it'll be a very tough game and with those players, even more tough."

Across town Royals will be looking for a massive turnaround - but it hardly seems beyond the reigning premiers given Brumbies Bayley Kuenzle, Connal McInerney and Tom Cusack are set to pull on the blue jersey this weekend.

"You can be dominant throughout the season, but come finals time with a different pressure, a different atmosphere, anything can happen on those days. Anyone is capable of beating teams in the top four," Royals skipper Ben Johnston said.

"I definitely think the experience from a few of the boys who have been in those situations over the past few years, in those games you have to win, it's a benefit for the team to have those guys around.

"It's the same for every team. There are no second chances this year for anyone."

JOHN I DENT CUP SEMI-FINALS

Saturday: Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles at Viking Park, 3.30pm; Uni-Norths Owls v Canberra Royals at ANU North Oval, 3.15pm.

ACT WOMEN PREMIER XVs SEMI-FINALS

Saturday: Uni-Norths Owls v Goulburn at ANU North Oval, 1pm; Canberra Royals v Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park, 1.15pm.