The 5-0 preliminary final victory now gives the two-time defending champions the chance to clinch a title hat-trick when they meet rivals Norths in Saturday's decider at Newcastle International Hockey Centre.

Gosford went down to Norths after a penalty shootout in last weekend's major semi.

"Hopefully that was the spark we needed last week because that was a much better game from us today," Magpies coach Mark Drennan said. "We were a lot more up tempo."

Drennan said one of the most pleasing aspects of the performance was the spread of goal scorers across the do-or-die fixture.

Lloyd Radcliffe opened Gosford's account in the first quarter before Rhiley Carr doubled the hosts' advantage in the second.

Hugh Wickert and Ben Ferguson (knee), who had been under an injury cloud leading up to the match, both found the back of the net during the third quarter to make it 4-0. Robbie McGuire topped it all off with the Magpies' fifth goal in the fourth and final term.

"All of our strikers came in and took opportunities," Drennan said.

"We won each quarter and never took a backward step."

Drennan praised the showing of 17-year-old Michael Taylor.

He said injured NSW representative Lain Carr (quad), who was sidelined on the weekend, would be assessed ahead of the grand final but was no guarantee of getting on the park.

Wests coach Ryan Johnston said Gosford were simply too good.

"They did the basic things better than anybody else," Johnston said.

Meanwhile, in the Newcastle District Women's Hockey Association premier league Oxfords will have the chance to defend their major title when they meet minor premiers Souths in Saturday's decider having beaten Gosford 1-0 in the weekend's preliminary final. Phoebe Blount-Hollier scored for Oxfords in the second quarter.