City and Terrigal sit high above the pack on 60 points, but the Panthers have top spot due to a superior percentage.

"The minor premiership is nice to win but it is not that important in the big picture," Cotter said. "It didn't matter last year (when City won the flag). We want to play our game, on our ground. If we play our style, hopefully the result looks after itself. We always want to win but the top two get a week off so it doesn't really matter."

Both sides will be without several key players.

"Cameron Keast is still injured, Reed Van Huisstede is playing Swans reserves, Stephen Batten is not back yet ... we are probably four or five down. Looking at their squad they are about the same.

"I don't have my ruckman and I don't have my centre-half forward. We will play different because of different personnel. If we progress to the grand final, it will be a different game with both teams having five or so to come back. For some guys, if they play well enough in a big game like this, they won't lose their spot. Some guys might think they are 23 or 24 on the list. If they do a good job tomorrow under a bit of pressure, the other guys have to try and take the spot back."

Sam Ellis, Brandon Thomas and Will McKellar head the list of absentees for Terrigal.

"We are missing three or four who will slide straight back in," Terrigal coach Chris Bishop said.

Thomas kicked five goals in the Panthers' 35-point win over the Blues at Moore Oval in round nine.

"He is a key player for us," Bishop said. "But we have been sharing the goal-kicking all year and we will have to do that again. We are playing it safe with him and will have him back for the finals, which is the main thing."

Both coaches expect the gale-force conditions predicted for Saturday would have a major impact.

"We have a small, fast team and they have a tall team," Cotter said.

"The ball will be on the ground a lot which probably suits us a little better."

Bishop is anticipating an "old-fashioned slogfest".

"It will come down to territory and a bit of luck," he said. "The ball will be on the ground more than in the air. It's who can get there earlier and get it going their way. They have lots of good, young talent. On their day, on that ground, if you let them run we will be chasing arse. We just have to make sure we hold them down and hold the footy."

In other matches, Killarney Vale host Maitland, Nelson Bay welcome Singleton to Burwell Oval, Warners Bay travel to Wyong lakes, and Cardiff battle Gosford at Pasterfield Sports Complex.