Antonio Kaufusi and Huddersfield Giants are hitting form at just the right time, but the former Australia prop insists the same can be said for Thursday's Super League play-off opponents Wigan.
A nerve-jangling 17-16 victory over league leaders St Helens on the regular season's final weekend ensured Huddersfield secured a coveted top-four finish.
It has been touch-and-go for the Giants but with Castleford Tigers losing they even managed to leap into third and avoid a re-match with the Saints in their play-off opener.
Instead they will face the Warriors, the reigning Super League champions who, after a slow start to the campaign, finished strongly to take second spot in the table.
Peaking at the right time is a valuable trait and it is something former Melbourne Storm man Kaufusi has clearly mastered too.
After forcing his way back into head coach Paul Anderson's good books this season, he now heads into the play-offs in good spirits - much like the rest of the Giants squad.
"I think Wigan are firing at the right time and I think they would probably be one of the form teams at the moment, but it doesn't matter who we come across," said Kaufusi.
"We wanted to finish as high as we can and in that top four you get two bites of the cherry. We were all crammed up there but we knew that it was basically in our hands. It was up to us if we wanted to make the top four.
"We took a lot of positives out of that win and against Wigan we have to do that again. That is the tough thing - backing up what you have done."
A brief loan spell to Super League strugglers Bradford Bulls broke up what has been a stop-start campaign for the Tongan-born powerhouse - but Huddersfield wouldn't dream of letting him go now.
"The coach asked me to go and I will do anything that is best for the team," he added. "If that means getting some game time elsewhere, then that's fine.
"You want to play in the semi-finals and for me adding a little bit to the team is great. I always put my head down and chip away and wait for my opportunities."
Australian coach Nathan Brown, who used to be in charge of Huddersfield, will lead St Helens into their play-off clash with Castleford on Friday.
However, in the build-up to the contest he has been forced to pour cold water on rumours linking him with the Wests Tigers job in the NRL.
"At the moment Mick Potter is the coach and no-one has ever been in contact with myself or my agent," said Brown
"To start with, I'm not the type to try and get jobs where coaches are in position.
"I'm working at St Helens with a really good bunch of guys and enjoying what I'm doing, so it's really just speculation and I don't know where it comes from."
Thursday September 18 - Qualifying Play-off
Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants
Friday September 19 - Qualifying Play-off
St Helens v Castleford Tigers
Saturday September 20 -Eliminations Play-offs
Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings
Leeds Rhinos v Catalan Dragons
Source: AFP
