McDermott missed last Saturday's match against the Yass Roos with a few niggles, but he is right to go for Saturday's match.

The small on-baller gives the Blues so much drive out of the centre and he is pivotal to the Blues' chances in the finals.

Last Saturday's match was the first match he has missed in two seasons. To show the value of McDermott in the Blues' line-up, in the 14 matches this season, he was listed in the club's best six players 11 times.

After five matches on the road, the Coota Blues return to Clarke Oval on Saturday for their most important home game for four years.

After finishing the home and away season as the undefeated minor premiers, the Blues take on the Southern Cats in the major semi-final.

Last Saturday's tough win against Yass has hardened up the Blues for Saturday's match against Southern Cats.

The winner of Saturday's match has a direct passage to the grand final to be played at Queanbeyan on Saturday, August 31.

The loser gets a second chance and plays the winner of the Belconnen /Goulburn minor semi-final in the preliminary final on Saturday week in Canberra.

Interestingly, the Blues last finals match was at Clarke Oval in 2015, when the Blues thrashed Cooma in the preliminary final by 73.

Saturday's match is against the side formerly called the Cooma Cats, now rebranded the Southern Cats, which encompasses players from Cooma, Jindabyne and Canberra.

SATURDAY'S MATCHES

Noon: AFL Canberra Regional grade women's - Riverina Lions vs. Queanbeyan.

2.15pm: AFL Canberra Regional grade men's - Cootamundra vs. Southern Cats.

In the other two matches, the elimination finals at Belconnen: AFL Canberra Regional grade women's, Belconnen vs Eastlake and 2.15pm, AFL Canberra Regional grade, men's, Belconnen vs Goulburn.