NSW Super League Finals Week Two Preview

Semi Final 1
Bankstown Berries v Macarthur Rams
7pm Saturday, 1 September
The Crest, Bass Hill
Bankstown Berries and Macarthur Rams meet in this elimination semi final, just two weeks after facing off in the last round of the season proper. That match finished 2-2 and with the round eleven fixture at Lynwood Park also finishing all square, results indicate that there is little between the two sides.
The Berries had an epic encounter last week against Bankstown City, only going down on penalties, but the two hour plus hit out will certainly have tested their stamina. With the Berries also finishing the game with nine men, they will have to do without experienced midfielder Ben Delicata for this one, as well as defender Alex Becerra.
Macarthur, who had two players of their own suspended last week following that final round game, will welcome back Josh Karpes and Daniel Duarte and that will be a fillip for a side who struggled for numbers last weekend.
Shannon Hankin, who snatched the third goal for the Rams last Saturday, will look again to be a game saver, with Stefan Donevski keen to add to his seven this season.
Macarthur fell out of the championship race at this stage last year, so expect a determined effort to go further in this.
Under 20s
Northern Tigers v St George kick off  4.30pm
Semi Final 2
Northern Tigers v Bankstown City FC
3pm Sunday, 2 September
Mills Park, Asquith
For many Super League watchers, these are the two best teams in the competition by some measure, and this Sunday?s major semi could well be a Grand Final preview.
Both Northern Tigers and Bankstown City went head to head at the top of the table during the second half of the season, with the Tigers only confirming the title in the final weekend.
That won?t have sat well with the Lions, who were seeking an immediate return to the Premier League, but an ultimate Grand Final victory would go some way towards easing the pain. It was at Mills Park that Bankstown commenced their Super League year, a 1-0 loss showing that it would not be a season to be taken for granted. That wasn?t the case of course, Bankstown learning early that Super League would be a difficult competition.
They don?t come any harder that the Tigers of course, who will have relished their week off, particularly as Bankstown had to survive two hard hours against Bankstown Berries. Coupled with Bankstown City?s friendly against Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday, there is little doubt that the Tigers will be the fresher. With Travis Oughtred and captain Paul Davies set to return, they will be close to full strength too.
Bankstown performed very creditably against the Mariners, despite suffering a 4-0 loss, and the solid game time for Dominic Hudap in his first appearance since returning from overseas, would have been most beneficial. Some of the first eleven were rested, the focus clearly being Sunday?s semi.
The Tigers have shaded the Lions this year, a win and a draw from their two encounters to date, but with a Grand Final berth going to the victors, this one is well up for grabs. 
Under 20s

Spirit FC v Sydney University kick off 12.30pm

-By Peter Rowney