We are at the business end of the business end. Everything is elimination from this point on.

The crop has thinned out a bit, with eight Falcons teams playing in finals this Friday. Amazingly, of these eight teams, seven of them are girls teams. All is not lost for the boys though, special mentions going to the 16.4 boys, 18.2 boys and 20.2 boys who qualified straight to the Grand Final and enjoy a week off on Friday. Along a similar line, the Under 12 VC girls are straight through to the prelim and also get a week off.

Let's have a look at the teams who are playing to survive and advance this week:

Under 16.5 Boys - East 5

Preliminary Final Waverley (5) vs Casey (3) 7:40pm Knox Crt 1

Some perspective is required when describing the unbelievable run this team is on right now. The boys endured a string of close losses to start the season, and at the half way point sat with one win and eight losses. From that time, the fellows put on 7 wins and a draw from their final 9 games to grab the last spot in finals. The two finals games have been rather pedestrian in comparison, with the Falcons recording wins by 6 and 16. They face the Cavs this week who they by some mischance haven't crossed paths with at all during the season. The Cavs look a strong unit though with 13 wins and a draw from their 18 regular season games, so the Falcons may be in for their biggest test yet.

Under 12.3 Girls - East 1

Preliminary Final Waverley (3) vs Mornington (2) 6:40pm Frankston Crt 2

Despite finishing the season on top of the ladder, following their loss to Southern Pen last week the Falcons will have to earn their place in the Grand Final the hard way. The Falcons put up a brave effort last week despite going in undermanned, and another big effort will be required here. Working in the Falcons' favour is the two results between the teams this season, with the Falcons recording solid victories on both occasions. It's been said a few times in these previews and is true again that finals is a different beast, so the challenge is on for the Falcons here and a Grand Final spot on the line if they want it badly enough.

Under 14.1 Girls - VC Reserve

Semi Final Waverley vs Keilor 8:20pm MSAC Crt 5

The situation has become immediate for the Falcons who have had to fight through injuries most of the season. After suffering a blackout again the Energy last week, the Falcons will bolt to MSAC to take on the Thunder in this knockout final. These teams played back in Round 10 and it was a good night for the Falcons, who notched up a very handy win. The girls will be hoping to a similar return to form in this one as they play for a premilinary final spot, and any team that can make shots at MSAC has usually earned the right to play the next week. It will require a better defensive effort from the Falcons who gave up 49 points last week against Latrobe, but with it all on the line the girls will be ready to give it their all.

Under 14.3 Girls - East 1

Preliminary Final Waverley (3) vs Pakenham 7:40pm Knox Crt 2

One of a few 'back to the future' matchups this week where opponents from the first week of finals rekindle their romance with a spot in the big dance up for grabs. Two weeks ago the Falcons had the answers as they snared a 13 point win. In the meantime, the Warriors put an end to the finals hopes of Waverley's 14.2 Girls, and will hope to do the business again here to the 3s. It was a tough week for the Falcons last week, falling agonisingly short against top placed Chelsea for the early bird Grand Final special. Instead the Falcons will need to get through at peak hour, and a return effort against the Warriors will get the job done. The games between these teams during the season were much closer, so nothing is agiven here and the girls will need to be at their best.

Under 14.4 Girls - East 4

Preliminary Final Waverley (4) vs Kilsyth (5) 6:40pm Knox Crt 5

It took a clutch effort last Friday, but the Falcons managed to keep their Grand Final hopes alive with a gritty four point win over Eltham. In a perculiar season series against the Cobras, the Falcons were dominant the first time around, winning by 21. Those memories faded fast the second time around though when the Cobras got the better of them by five points. Form is good for the Falcons though, winning their two finals games so far and coming in to this one with plenty of confidence. It's been the D which has been getting it done for the Falcons, giving up just 20 points per game over their last 4. If they can keep the Cobras around that 20 point mark, they'll be every chance of securing an unlikely finals berth.

Under 16.1 Girls - VJL 1

Preliminary Final Waverley vs Ringwood 7:40pm State Basketball Centre Crt 6

The Falcons rock up to take on Ringwood for the third time in four weeks. Ringwood won the two recent encounters, the first time by three points, followed by a convincing 14 point win in the first week of finals. The Falcons however bounced back into form last week with a commanding 21 point win over Latrobe City. While both their finals games have been double figure games, the Falcons had a perchant on close games during the regular season. Nine of their 18 games were decided by three points or less, so if this one goes down to the wire, they'd have to rate their chances. One thing that is for certain is the Falcons need to defend, they cannot afford to give up the 45 points they allowed to weeks ago if they want to compete in this one.

Under 16.4 Girls - East 4

Preliminary Final Waverley (4) vs Chelsea (2) 7:40pm Nunawading Crt 3

In a matchup that hasn't been kind to the Falcons this season, they will need to turn the tide on the Gulls to snare a Grand Final spot. Two weeks ago these teams did battle in the qualifying final, and the Gulls got the win by a tidy eight points. It was the third victory by th Gulls over the Falcons this season, but with the other margins being 13 points and four points, it has hardly been a whitewash. The Falcons responded last week with an encouraging 11 point win over Blackburn, so if ever there was a time to get over the Gulls, this is that time. Scoring is an issue for the Falcons in this matchup, while they have been up and above the 40 point mark in some games, they have only surpassed 30 points just once against Chelsea, if they can get buckets, they may well steal this win.

Under 18.1 Girls - VC Reserve

Semi Final Waverley vs Frankston 9:40pm Sandringham Crt 1

Although they haven't met in finals so far, these teams also went head to head in the final round of the regular season two weeks ago. It was a close game and the Blues got the win by just four points. In the first week of finals the teams' fortunes were a little different, with the Falcons scoring a bunsiness-like 19 point win over Sunbury, and the Blues narrowly falling short against Keilor. Will the confidence from last week play a factor here, or will the result from two weeks ago be fresh in the minds of both teams? For both teams, it might be a matter as simple as just making shots that decides this game. All signs point to another close contest that could go either way.