“It would be excellent for Forbes and for our team,” coach Heamani Lavaka said of his hopes.

The Emus and the Platypi – the top two at the end of the regular rugby union season – will clash head-on this weekend for the right to host the 2016 decider in a mouth-watering grand final qualifier.

Grinsted Oval hosted a semi-final for the first time in a long time last weekend and Lavaka said the experience “was unbelievable”.

“The boys put on a good show,” he said.

The Platypi’s signature defence saw them constrain the Cowboys to one try in a first half where the visitors dominated ball possession. 

“In the second half it was our turn to have the ball and we used it wisely,” he said.

With 40mm of rain forecast for Friday, Lavaka expects to change his line-up to suit the anticipated boggy conditions at Eandeavour Oval.

“We will be as smart as we can, get the right side for the conditions and use our bench wisely when those legs get tired,” he said.

He knows the Emus are still smarting from their last home-ground loss to the Platypi but that’s not his focus at Forbes’ three nights of training this week.

“They didn’t like it one bit, but we prepare well no matter who we are playing,” he said. “Let the rest take care of itself.”

A side was to be named after Thursday night training.