Hands was forced off late in the Group Nine qualifying final with a quadriceps injury before his team came from behind late to set up a major semi-final clash with Gundagai.

Hands is hopeful he’ll be fit to take on the Tigers, as his team looks to get the better of the minor premiers for the first time this year.

“It caused me a bit of trouble earlier in the year and it caused me a bit of trouble when I was down in Sydney five or six years ago,” Hands said. 

The Bulls were close to booking a major semi-final showdown with Gundagai before Clifford Morris’ late try changed things and made their road to taking out the premiership for the second time in the club’s history much harder.

Instead they will have to win their next two games to make it back into the Group Nine grand final.

Despite the loss to the Diesels captain-coach Nick Skinner is still confident his team has what it takes to make through to the decider.

“I said to the boys we will take whatever path we have to,” Skinner said.

"We are all putting the effort in so hopefully it will come in results at some point.”

An early 12-point lead to Junee was the biggest margin in the game and the first-year coach was happy with the fighting effort soon by the team to hit the front with eight minutes to go.

“It’s disappointing but there was absolutely nothing it in,” Skinner said. 

“We defended as good as we could in those last few sets on the line but it was unfortunate we didn’t get there.”

Southcity will now host Young on Saturday and with the Cherrypickers defeating the Diesels and Kangaroos in the past fortnight Skinner is wary of the team that is finally getting back to full strength.

“I know it pretty well and soon as it went a little bit I thought I better get off or it will turn into a real problem.”