GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Ashley Taylor of the Titans in action during the round 20 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Parramatta Eels at Cbus Super Stadium on July 23, 2016 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Getty Images)
Five teams from 7th to 11th on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder are separated only by two points as we enter the final six weeks of the season.
With each team needing a strong six week period to give themselves the best chance of claiming one of just possibly two top eight spots remaining, these five players are the keys to their team's finals hopes.
According to the experts' pre-season predictions, the Titans find themselves in an unusual position at this stage of the season.
Many pundits had Gold Coast in last place, but their rise all season have been an uplifting one, lead by their halves pairing of Ashley Taylor and Tyrone Roberts.
Taylor and Roberts have been instrumental in the Titans' rise to finals contention, which is quite impressive considering it's the first season they've played together.
The halfback in Taylor leads his side in try assists (10) and line break assists (8), which shows just how good the 21-year-old is at getting teammates into great positions with ball in hand.
Taylor has scored five tries himself this season and if he's able to continue on with his impressive year, the Titans may well be heading towards a now likely finals berth.
An impressive season coupled with an Origin debut has Matt Moylan primed to be a big factor in his side's quest for a top eight spot.
Moylan has racked up 12 try assists and is third in the league for line break assists with 15, and is one of the highest fullbacks on both those lists.
As well as being damaging offensively, Moylan has also made six tackles as the last line of defence, asserting his dominance on both ends of the field.
The young fullback will be a key player in Penrith's run to the finals and he has the ability to lead his team there.
When Shaun Johnson is on his game, the Warriors halfback is one of the most exciting and damaging players in the competition.
Johnson leads the league in line break assists with 19 and has 12 line breaks of his own, which showcases his ability to take on and beat the opposition defence.
The halfback is also among the top of the leaderboard in try assists with 14 and has nine tries to his name as well, and is certainly one of the biggest reasons as the why the Warriors are still in the finals race.
After finally making his Origin debut during Origin 3, James Tedesco now turns his attention to leading his club side into the finals.
The Tigers currently sit in 10th position just one game out of the eight, and will be looking for some of their more consistent players over the course of the season to stand up over the final rounds.
Along with their impressive halves in Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses, James Tedesco has starred throughout the season, scoring 12 tries and adding 11 try assists.
While those three players need to have a big final six weeks of the season. Tedesco is one of the most exciting players in the league and has the ability to win games on his own, which just could be the difference between playing in or missing out of the finals.
When you're looking for someone to lead the Dragons' charge to the finals, look no further then club captain Gareth Widdop.
Widdop has lead from the front all season and as been a constant in the Dragons' lineup.
The five-eighth's 10 try assists and seven line break assists are a team high, so Widdop's teammates will be looking to him for guidance over the next six weeks, and the Englishman has the ability to take his team to the final eight.