As Round 27 approaches the NRL playoff picture is beginning to take shape.
Ten teams are still in contention for the top-eight, while two other sides will be playing to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Sporting News breaks down all of the possible NRL ladder permutations ahead of the Round 27 slate of games.
MORE: Nightmare matchups that could end each contenders finals run
Playoff picture ahead of Round 27
The Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs are locked into their positions as first, second and third on the premiership ladder.
The former have elected to rest many of their key players in the final regular season round; whilst both Craig Bellamy and Cameron Ciraldo will trot out close to a full-strength side in their games against the Broncos and Sharks respectively.
Fourth place is the highest available ladder position up for grabs in Round 27 with the Broncos, Sharks and Warriors all in the mix.
If Brisbane upset Melbourne at Suncorp, they'll secure a top-four spot and book their ticket for a week one finals matchup in the nation's capital.
Cronulla will need to knock off the Bulldogs on the road and rely on a Broncos loss to make the top-four. If either of those scenarios don't occur, they will be destined for a fifth or sixth place finish.
The Warriors can't reach fourth position unless both the Broncos and Sharks lose and they get one over the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park.
With 34 premiership points and a plus 22 point-differential, Andrew Webster's men cannot fall below sixth place, where they will have the opportunity to host an elimination final in Auckland.
Four teams will fight it out for the final two places in the top-eight, with the Panthers, Roosters, Dolphins and Sea Eagles all still alive.
If the Panthers defeat the Dragons they lock up seventh place, but if they are to get upset by the Red-V, they risk falling to eighth with a Roosters win.
The Eastern Suburbs-based club with a win will book their ticket to the finals, however, which slot they finish in will be decided by the aforementioned Panthers-Dragons result.
A loss for the Roosters would bring the Dolphins right into the frame, as Kristian Woolf's side would only need a win to equal Easts on 30 premiership points.
However, they would need to overcome a 15-point differential which would be aided by a blowout against a depleted Raiders outfit.
The Sea Eagles are still mathematically alive but are a complete long shot. They need the Roosters and Dolphins to both lose, but also recoup an 82-point for-and-against deficit. For all intents and purposes, the Sea Eagles are on the outside looking in on this year's finals race.
On the opposite end of the ladder, there is an equally fierce battle taking place - except for a completely different prize.
The Knights and Titans are playing to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon, with the Newcastle-based outfit currently holding the slight advantage over their Gold Coast rivals.
If the Knights beat the Eels on Sunday afternoon, they're safe and will secure 16th position on the ladder.
However, if Parramatta win as the odds makers are expecting them to, the Titans would only need a win over the hot-and-cold Tigers to avoid last spot.
Leading into what will be Des Hasler's final game in charge of the club, the Titans hold a 37-point differential advantage over the Knights, making this contest one to keep an eye on in Round 27.