After 26 gruelling rounds of NRL action, we've come to the business end of the season.

Eight teams remain to fight it out for the Premiership, and I'm very happy to say the Warriors are there. The other seven teams are the Dragons, Panthers, Tigers, Titans, Roosters, Raiders, and the Sea Eagles.

In game one on Friday night the Warriors head to Skilled Park to take on the Titans. The Titans have become somewhat of a bogey team for the Warriors, and it doesn't help that the Titans have a very good home record. The Warriors have been impressive in recent weeks, and are definitely not heading to the Gold Coast to make up the numbers. The Titans will be favorites to beat the Warriors, but if the Warriors can continue their good form there could be an upset on the cards.

Naturally, I'm calling a Warriors win.

Saturday night sees the Tigers take on the Roosters, followed by the Panthers and Raiders. The Tigers have the potential to make easy work of the Roosters, but they could just as easily make hard work for themselves. The Roosters have had a shaky run into the finals, and made hard work of the Cowboys last Saturday. The Tigers have been more consistent in recent times, and although they lost to the Titans in Round 26 if I was a betting man I'd be putting my cash on the Tigers. Look out if Benji fires up - Tigers should be too good in this one.

The second game of the night is another one that should be easy to pick. You'd have to think the Panthers will be too strong for the Raiders, especially as the Raiders aren't a strong team away from Canberra. The Panthers have done well to finish in second place, and have found a way to score other than off the high kick. This makes them a very dangerous side, and one that could go all the way in 2010.

Having said that, the Raiders are not to be taken lightly. This is the same team that has beaten the Dragons twice in 2010, and the fact they're in the finals is no fluke. They are a young side full of flair, and can score plenty of trys. The Panthers would be foolish to take the Green Machine lightly. You might think it's a long shot, but I think the Raiders will cause an upset in this one.

The final game of the weekend sees the Dragons play host to the Sea Eagles, who only just managed to scrape into the finals series. Based on the Dragons game against the Bunnies on Sunday, I think the Dragons will make easy work of the Sea Eagles, who will most likely be without a whole host of stars. Watmough, Kite, Ballin, Galuvao, Foran and Lyon are all under injury clouds, while Steve Matai and Jason King are facing suspensions (Matai up to seven weeks, King possibly one). It seems very unlikely the Sea Eagles will be able to field a team strong enough to beat the Minor Premiers.

So, thoughts on my picks?  Who have you got down as winning?

Chris on Twitter

Photo credit - paddynapper