The defending premiers confirmed a place in the post-season when they defeated Cowra 38-15 last weekend and on Saturday they travel to Mudgee to take on the Wombats.

The Wombats sit just two points behind the Roos in fifth and the victor of Saturday's match looks all but certain to host a home semi in the first week of the finals.

But claiming a win is easier said than done for the Roos at Mudgee's Jubilee Oval, a fortress in 2015 with Orange City the only team to win there this season.

"We're well aware they've only lost one game all year at home so it's going to be a tough road trip," Roos skipper Shaun McHugh said.

"There's not much that separates the teams and we saw that when they came here so it's going to be a good, hard contest."

The Roos are just two points behind Bathurst but with the Bulldogs facing lowly CSU this weekend the Dubbo side seems destined to finish fourth or fifth.

If McHugh and his men are able to win at Jubilee it means they will play either Mudgee or Cowra, their two most recent opponents, again in week one of the finals at home in Dubbo.

"A home semi gives an advantage so if we sneak a win here we know we're in a position where we don't have to travel," he said.

"We beat Mudgee once this season and we've beaten Cowra once this season so it doesn't make a huge difference but first things first and that's this week.

"We can't get too ahead of ourselves, we're in the mindset that's it's finals this week but whoever we face in a semi we know it's going to be a tight tussle.

"I think from third to sixth is all pretty even. The top two have been standouts but the others are even so it doesn't matter who we play, it would just be ideal to play them at home."

While a win at Jubilee would seal a home semi it would also confirm the Roos as one of the serious contenders for this season's premiership.

After beginning the season slowly the 2014 champions had found their feet in recent weeks and won seven of their past nine matches and McHugh admitted his side was playing the best it had all year.

"Whether it's just the combination of the same guys playing regularly together or the game plan finally clicking but we're playing with confidence and that helps," he said.

James Mata is a chance of returning at scrumhalf after missing last week with an ankle injury, but McHugh said his side would lose little if he was ruled out again with Tim Phillips a standout in the number nine jersey against Cowra.

Filisione Pauta's situation was also unclear after he missed last week and it was uncertain at this stage if the powerful outside centre would be available.

If he did return, Anthony Golding was expected to swap centre positions while Moa Kavaefiafi would move out to wing and Luke Ryan would drop out.

The Roos and Wombats kick off at 3.15pm at Jubilee Oval.