The first week of finals football didn't disappoint.
Premiership heavyweights flexed their muscle, while underdogs fought to keep their premiership dreams alive.
Now, only six teams remain in contention, with two do-or-die semi-finals set to decide who progresses to the prelims.
The stakes for all four teams playing in Week 2 are simple: win, and you're one step away from the big dance. Lose, and Mad Monday awaits.
The Sporting News breaks down the Raiders versus Sharks, and Bulldogs versus Panthers matchups ahead of the weekend.
MORE: Bulldogs coach backs Galvin-Sexton duo ahead of Panthers clash
NRL finals Week 2 preview
Raiders vs. Sharks - GIO Stadium, Canberra
The Raiders are back on home soil after being upset by the Broncos in Week 1.
As minor premiers, Ricky Stuart's men have set the pace all season, but they now find themselves in sudden-death territory against a Sharks outfit who continue to ride momentum at the right time.
Canberra's identity this season has been built on their powerful engine room, featuring stars including Joseph Tapine, Josh Papali'i, Hudson Young, Zac Hosking and Corey Horsburgh.
If those boys start rolling downhill, Jamal Fogarty will be able to assert his kicking game and the young backline will have opportunities to produce points.
The key for the Raiders will be pinning the Sharks down in their own half, limiting their spine's ability to dictate the tempo of the game as they have been in recent weeks.
For Cronulla, it's simple: they need to replicate the formula that worked against the Roosters in Week 1.
That means winning the ruck, making the Raiders' big men move laterally, and maintaining the pressure through their strong bench rotation.
Blayke Brailey remains the heartbeat of their attack, but Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall and Will Kennedy need to find a way to combine and exploit the Raiders' shaky right edge.
Both sides lean heavily on their packs, whoever wins that battle will win the game.
Bulldogs vs. Panthers - Accor Stadium, Sydney
It's fitting that the defending four-time premiers face a side that features many of the Panthers favourite sons from different eras of their dynasty.
The Bulldogs are reeling after being outlasted by the Storm in Melbourne, while Penrith got through off the back of a scrappy performance in New Zealand.
Cameron Ciraldo will be hoping his side replicates some of the defensive intensity that they brought to AAMI Park a week ago, particularly in the opening stages of the contest.
Their forward pack is undersized compared to Penrith, but their ruck-speed and ball-playing ability may cause the Panthers structured defence problems.
The new look halves duo of Lachlan Galvin and Toby Sexton don't have much time to gel, however, Matt Burton returns to centre which could unlock a different dimension to their attack.
If the Bulldogs keep the tempo high and capitalise on the half-chances that present themselves, they are more than capable of an upset.
For the Panthers, they'll look to suffocate Canterbury through high completions, line speed and effort.
Moses Leota and Lindsay Smith need to impose themselves early, while Isaah Yeo's double-threat as a runner and ball-player will be crucial to stretching the Bulldogs' defensive line.
The real question is whether Nathan Cleary can produce another kicking masterclass, similar to the one he put one against the Warriors.
With their yardage game from the back-five, Penrith will fancy their chances of wearing down Canterbury over the 80-minutes.