While Saturday afternoon's victory in front of a large band of Steamers fans ensured a top seven berth in next season's ITM Cup – the Steamers are entirely focused on taking five points from Northland on Thursday evening.

Lelia Masaga is atop the ITM Cup try scorers list.

There is a race to make the semi-finals with just one round of the ITM Cup remaining and up to six teams still in contention.

However, Bay of Plenty has its destiny in its own hands.

A bonus point victory against the side from the far north see the Steamers move into second place on the ITM Cup standings, with all other finals contenders having a game in hand.

For the Steamers to stay in second, they would then require Canterbury to beat Waikato, North Harbour to beat Taranaki, Southland to beat Wellington and Tasman to beat Auckland.

While this is an unlikely mixture of results, a bonus point win to the Steamers does give them a strong chance to make the semi finals in third or fourth position; depending on four-try-or-more bonus points won this weekend by the top teams.

Flying Steamers winger Lelia Masaga will look to give the Steamers one such point as he continues his position at the top of the ITM Cup try scoring stakes. He went ahead in the competition with a further touchdown against Southland at the weekend. Receiving the ball out wide early in the game, he dashed over for his 10th try of the season.

Two other players who have a strong influence on the fortunes of Steamers this season, advanced their try tally at the weekend too. Halfback Taniela Moa grabbed his fifth touchdown, while inspirational captain Colin Bourke crossed for his fourth of the season.

ITM Cup Information
Last Season (2009) BOP Steamers 19 Northland 14

BOP Steamers Points Scorers 2010
Try Scorers
Ten - Lelia Masaga
Five - Taniela Moa
Four - Colin Bourke
Two - Tristan Moran, Phil Burleigh, Luke Braid, Grant McQuoid, Dan Waenga, Mike Delany
One - Tanerau Latimer, Chad Tuoro, Ben Smith, Lance MacDonald, Cory Aporo, Culum Retallick, Josh Hohneck, Solomon King, Toby Arnold

Total Points
88 Mike Delany (2 tries, 21 cons, 12 pen)
50 Lelia Masaga (10 tries)
25 Taniela Moa (5 tries)
23 Dan Waenga (2 tries, 3 pen, 2 con)
22 Colin Bourke (4 tries, con)
20 Phil Burleigh (2 tries, 5 con)
10 Tristan Moran (2 tries) Ben Smith (2 tries) Cory Aporo (2 tries) Luke Braid (2 tries) Grant McQuoid (2 tries)
7 Tanerau Latimer (try, con)
5 (1 try) Chad Tuoro, Lance MacDonald, Culum Retallick, Josh Hohneck, Solomon King, Toby Arnold.