Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron says he will not be hiding anything from North Melbourne, despite the prospect of the Giants facing the Kangaroos in the first week of the finals.
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As North dropped a bombshell with the announcement that four of their veterans, including record-breaker Brent Harvey, would not be offered contracts next year, the atmosphere is more stable at Homebush heading into the final round of the season.
While North's position on the ladder cannot change, the Giants can still move into the top four with victory on Saturday night, while a loss could see them drop as low as seventh and be forced to make a trip interstate for an elimination final.
As such, there will be no chance for the Giants to rest any weary players or keep any tactical aces up their sleeves.
"It'll be full steam ahead, there'll be no holding back from our end," Cameron said before news broke of the drama at North Melbourne.
"We know any side that's capable of winning nine in a row is a very, very good side, and they've had their injury concerns over the last two and a half months. They're starting to get some [players] back, but I'm sure they'll attack it 100 per cent as well.
"We want to come in [to the finals] hardened and match fit, and playing against some really good top opposition, and we will get that on Saturday. We look forward to the challenge and they will, too.
"There's so many things that can stem from this match in terms of ladder positions, but we can't control what happens with the other teams.
"We need to win the game."
The Kangaroos have won just three of 12 since starting the season with nine straight victories but have tested leading premiership fancies Hawthorn and Sydney in the past fortnight.
"They would know they're not far off their best," Cameron said. "They'll bring some quality players back this week.
"They'll be fully wound up. They might have some coming back that are clearly in their best 18 and they'll make sure they have a really big hit-out and are back running."
The effect of the pre-finals bye has been widely discussed, particularly the impact it would have on teams that were to win the qualifying final then earn another week off.
"It means you're in a preliminary final. For us, in our first finals campaign, we'd take that any day of the week," Cameron said.
"One thing I am rapt about is we're participating in it. Our finals start on Saturday night and hopefully we're around for four or five weeks."
