Not content with just making the Group 11 finals, Forbes Magpies captain-coach Jake Grace is determined to lift the black and whites well beyond Saturday’s elimination semi-final blockbuster against Parkes.

Forbes has floated around the top three all season, but the closeness of the 2016 premiership between Nyngan, Dubbo Macquarie, Forbes and Parkes resulted in the Magpies ending the regular season in fourth place.

It’s doe-or-die now for Grace and the Magpies, but the former Group 9 premiership winning Albury Thunder star believes his team is more than capable of making a run at the major prize this season.

And it all starts with Parkes at Spooner Oval on Saturday.

“We want to make a bit of a stamp on the competition. We know we’re good enough to give it a bit of a shake,” Grace said.

“It is cliched, but for us it’s still one game at a time though. If we lose to Parkes then we’re out and we know that.

“We’re 100 per cent focused on this game and beating Parkes.”

Working in the Magpies’ favour is the scheduling for finals grounds by Group 11.

Forbes has been granted week one hosting rights at Spooner Oval, handing Grace what he believes will be a huge advantage come kick-off for Saturday’s elimination semi-final.

“It’s massive,” he said.

“If we can get the sort of numbers we did last week for this week’s semi, then it’ll be huge for us. I’d much rather play at Spooner Oval than over at Pioneer.”

The Magpies’ two-point win over Parkes last weekend was built on the back of forward dominance, with the size of Forbes’ side – Mitch Andrews, Zac Merrit, Ben Maguire and Ben Robinson – proving too much for the Spacies.

“We do take confidence out of that,” Grace added.

“Parkes scored all of their tries through kicks too, and if we tighten up that area and put a bit more pressure on players like Dennis (Moran) then we’ll be able to limit that as well.”

First grade will kick-off at 2pm at Spooner Oval, with a qualifying league tag semi-final between Forbes and Parkes at 10.30am.