The first of which is a match-up of play styles, as fourth seeded Cooks Hill prepares to take on the northern Raymond Terrace squad.

Known for their fast-paced dodgeball over the course of the regular season, much of the Terrace’s attack will be channeled through forward-thinking plays from David Franklin, and captain Peter Goldthorpe, who was also named Most Valuable Player for season ten.

Despite the Terrace’s preference to up the tempo of each match they find themselves in, Cooks Hill will likely enter the elimination fray with one thing on their mind – slow, meticulous dodgeball.

Falling to a finals fourth seed after a shaking opening to the season, Cooks Hill are looking to return to the grand final after missing their chance in season nine. Last season saw them fall just short of the title decider, as Waratah won out 6-5 in the semifinals.

The Cookers will also want to avoid their struggles last week, as Raymond Terrace rattled them with a 10-3 win in the final round of the regular season.

Elsewhere in the first week of finals, and Belmont make their elimination rounds debut against the ‘new kids on the block’ Rutherford.

Belmont have had a resurgent season at Oakdale Arena, moving from strength to strength as they challenged Waratah for season. In the end, two late-season results bumped them to third, and a first week playoff spot.

Now, they will look to continue their rise with more of the same style they’ve played for much of the season, though key absences may threaten their next step towards the grand final.

Deep catcher Gorgia Watkins has been ruled out with a knee injury, while a short spell on the sideline for Liam Janczuk has left them without their impact forward.

Jaimi Bubb and captain Nic Price stepped up in their absences last week, as Belmont pushed season ten premiers Hamilton to a 7-3 match, but Belmont’s unified team style will need to come to the fore if they are to make it past Rutherford.

Hamilton (first) and Waratah (second) await the quarter final victors in the second week of finals.

Quarter final matches begin from 6.30pm at Oakdale Arena, Gateshead.