The battle begins in earnest for finals

There are five rounds left before the 2015 North Pilbara Football League finals kick off and both the league and reserves matches have been tighter affairs this year, with no team able to claim complete dominance.

The Pilbara News has run the rule over each side to see how the teams are tracking as we near finals footy.

Dampier Sharks

League wins: 8 losses: 2

Reserve wins: 5 losses: 5

After being bundled out in the preliminary final last year by eventual winners Karratha Kats, it seems nothing can shorten the Sharks' stride at the moment.

Several comprehensive victories and a firing forward line have the team from Windy Ridge sitting pretty on top of the table with a 165 percentage to boot.

League coach Kristian Dicton said having a few players travelling consistently made a big difference.

"We had a young list last season, so a few of the boys have matured a bit, which has helped us out," he said.

"Our teamwork has seen big improvement across the park.

"There are no real stand-out players; it has just been a real team effort this year."

The Sharks reserves are still in the mix as well, sitting fourth on percentage behind the South Hedland Swans.

Reserves coach Doug Holt said no team was unbeatable in their competition this year.

Holt said consistent back and centre lines had helped their cause, but they needed more consistency up front.

South Hedland Swans

League wins: 7 losses: 3

Reserve wins: 5 losses: 5

Having underperformed in recent years, 2015 has been a season out of the box for the South Hedland Swans.

Long blessed with raw speed and skill the envy of most in the competition, the Swans have this year also brought grit and determination to the field.

Like the rebirth of the Sydney Swans as the Bloods in the mid-2000s, the 2015 Hedland Swannies are focused on defensive pressure and team spirit.

However, coach Troy Melville said the job was not yet done, with the team sitting in second place.

"What is … important is the playing group as a whole has jumped on board and are leading from the front," he said.

"It is not … the coaches who are initiating a lot of this. It is coming from the playing group.

"We know what our goals are for the next five games in the season … if we play to our best, we believe we can achieve these.

"And once you are there (in the finals games) at the end of the season, it can go any way."

Melville said the Swans reserves, further back on the ladder at five wins and five losses were also in the mix.

"(Many of the reserves players) are still learning and developing and once they play cohesive team-orientated footy, they can beat any side on their day, as was proven last week against Kats," he said.

Karratha Kats

League wins: 5 losses: 5

Reserve wins: 7 losses: 3

The 2014 premiers have been hot and cold this year, sitting with an even for and against tally.

A round 14 home game against the Wickham Wolves looms as a pivotal match for the Kats if they are to maintain their hopes of a top-two finish.

Coach Shane Mallard said the Kats, like all teams, had been affected by the mining downturn.

"We have had a fair whack of injuries as well, which have compounded our situation," he said.

"We would prefer to be six and four, there were probably a few games there we should have won.

"We don't just want to win the games we should win, we want to beat the top flight."

With the league team jostling for position, the reserves have their head above water at the top of the table, though once again it is the Wolves knocking at their front door only one game behind with a superior percentage.

Mallard said both teams were keen to get stuck in to the next few rounds to put themselves in the best positions possible for finals footy.

Wickham Wolves

League wins: 5 losses: 5

Reserve wins: 6 losses: 4

Last year's cellar dwellers, the Wickham Wolves have had a marked improvement this year and are still in contention for a semifinals appearance.

The Wolves are fourth on percentage behind the Kats and, like their opposition, the round 14 game against the Kats will be crucial.

Wolves president Paul Lott said being able to field two stable teams had made a big difference after losing a large contingent of their 2013 premiership team last season.

"We have had a bit of inconsistency at times, but overall I am fairly happy with all the young players coming through," he said.

"We have a good coaching team too, which makes a big difference."

The Wolves also have a big date coming up with their 40th anniversary game to be played against South Hedland Swans on July 11.

Lott said a function would be held after the matches to celebrate the milestone.

The reserves team are well in contention to finish top of the table for a second year running as well, lying only four points adrift of the Kats reserves in second.

Port Hedland Rovers

League wins: 4 losses: 6

Reserve wins: 4 losses: 6

One of the North Pilbara Football League's modern powerhouses, the Port Hedland Rovers have found themselves in unfamiliar territory this year as they face the real danger of missing the finals.

For the Rovers, the natural order has been turned on its head now that they lie in fifth place on four wins and six losses, while crosstown rivals Swans have soared into second on the ladder.

Having been hit hard by the mining sector downturn, the Port boys have battled week-in, week-out to put their best team on the park.

With a host of top players busy with work commitments, coach Greg Mastrangelo fired a defiant warning to the competition that they were not beaten.

He said the team should be able to call on its full list if they are able to make the finals.

"I believe if we are able to make the final four, then the side we put on the park will be extremely competitive and should be able to beat anyone," he said.

"(But) first thing is first, we need to win games leading up to the finals.

"While we don't have the depth that we are used to having with, obviously, projects finishing and the like, I put my faith in the 22 we put on the field each week - they need to get the job done."

With the reserves also sitting on four wins and six losses, Mastrangelo said the same rules applied to them.

"(In the reserves) we are in a similar position, we need to win games to stay alive," he said.

"We need to treat every game as if it is a final."

Karratha Falcons

League wins: 1 losses: 9

Reserve wins: 3 losses: 7

It has been a season to forget for the Karratha Falcons, who have been on the wrong end of several big scores this year.

Falcons league coach Brad Sermon said after losing a number of senior players, the club was going through a rebuilding phase.

"We haven't had the results but the boys have still been putting in every week," he said.

"The boys just have to keep training and trying to put four quarters together.

"The new committee has done a fantastic job this year, they've put the club in a good position."

While the league team looks a sure thing for the 2015 wooden spoon, there is still a good chance for the reserves to push up the table, sitting only two wins out of the top three, despite being last on the table.

"We have a few guys coming back from injury, so the reserves should get another four or five players and hopefully make a push for the finals," he said.

"When they have their full-strength side on the park, they're a pretty dangerous group." Sermon said a tough run home, including two Hedland trips, would test their mettle.