For the other, the thought of playing finals has been nothing but a dream in recent years.

Newtown and CYMS will do battle in Friday night's McDonald's Megahit semi-final and they come into the match with very different results under their belts during much of the past decade.

The Cougars' Twenty20 losing streak was one of the real talking points in the competition until its breakthrough win in the 2017/18 season while few clubs have enjoyed as much short-form success as Newtown.

The Tigers have won two of the past five titles while they've only missed out on a top three finish once in the past six seasons.

But they head into this season's finals with mixed form, having won three of its five regular season matches.

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CYMS has only lost once to this point, that being a heavy defeat at the hands of minor premiers Macquarie, and has produced some standout moments in the short form.

But despite all they've produced up to this point, the Cougars' build-up to Friday night's semi-final hasn't been the smoothest.

With no cricket to be played on Saturday and it being a long weekend, a number of players are in doubt.

Captain Ben Knaggs will miss the match, while there's question marks over Lachlan Strachan and Brock Larance is battling a slight foot complaint.

All three are key figures but one of the Cougars' best in the Twenty20 fixtures has been Thomas Nelson.

Nelson has passed 50 twice in his five knocks and is averaging 57 this season.

He will take on more of a key role on Friday night against a Tigers attack which is yet to bowl an opposition out this season.

The strength of Newtown in the field has been the ability to build pressure, with its last two wins featuring oppositions lineups failing to score more than 112.

The other big thing working in the Tigers' favour is the development shown across the season.

The side goes into the semi having won three games on the trot and while the regulars - namely Mat and Steve Skinner - have continued to shine it's been some relative newcomers who have made an impact.

Mitch Lincoln has featured in the top grade in the past but has got a consistent run in the team during the Megahit season, taking wickets regularly, while Tom Masonwells is another who has done a job with the ball each time he's called upon.

Play starts 6.30pm with the winner to take on Macquarie in the decider.