Just like last year, every member of the NRL's final four looks the goods and, just like last year, prepare for two teams to separate themselves from the pack this week.

The Sharks and Raiders are frightening newcomers to the ranks of contenders and they are up against two experienced campaigners in Johnathan Thurston's Cowboys and Cameron Smith's Storm.

So, who is going to the big dance, and who will be spending their summer ruing just how close they came?

Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys at the SFS - Friday at 7:55pm AEST

North Queensland demolished Ben Barba and the Sharks 39-0 in last year's semi-final. ( AAP Image: Michael Chambers )

This time last year North Queensland was every neutral fan's favourite team as they chased a maiden premiership. These days, the defending premiers are well and truly in the crosshairs of the chasing pack.

Sharks and Cowboys' recent finals records Season N/A 2010 N/A N/A 2011 Lost Wk 1 Lost Wk 1 2012 Lost Wk 2 Lost Wk 2 2013 Lost Wk 1 N/A 2014 Lost Wk 2 Lost Wk 2 2015 Won GF

Honestly, they have not added much since last season, running back effectively the same group (if it ain't broke and all that) and seemingly taking the same approach to the season despite no longer having the fuel of gunning for their first premiership.

The Sharks had the Cowboys' number when they met at Shark Park in round 14, smack bang in the middle of Cronulla's record winning streak, but that was revenge for a 14-20 loss up in Townsville to open the season.

Of course, a first-round win has about as much bearing on Friday's game as star signs on someone's personality, but the point of attack for the Cowboys should be the same, running their big back rowers at the Sharks' little men.

Matt Scott is just one Cowboy fighting injury. ( AAP: Michael Chambers )

Unfortunately, no Ethan Lowe robs North Queensland of a versatile target down the right corridor. But Jason Taumalolo's hot form should compensate for that. It is on the other side of the ball that the Cowboys may have a bigger issue.

Cronulla's electrifying backline can burn the best defences in the league and its right-side combination of Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes, in particular, will cause agonising migraines for the relatively inexperienced Kane Linnett-Javid Bowen combo that will only be exacerbated by the bright lights of the finals.

The Cowboys' injury toll is a real concern and they should be drained after two brutal finals, including a 90-minute behemoth against Brisbane last week, but as we all know that does not affect Johnathan Thurston because he is not human.

This game should come down to one or two plays probably towards the end of the game and when that is the case, it is almost impossible to bet against Thurston.

Cowboys by 2.

Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park - Saturday at 7:40pm AEST

Canberra's round-23 win over Melbourne proved the Raiders were ready for prime time. ( AAP: Mick Tsikas )

This is Melbourne's time of year. The time when experience and an innate understanding of the bloke next to you is more important than ever.

Storm and Raiders' recent finals records Season N/A 2010 Lost Wk 2 Lost Wk 3 2011 N/A Won GF 2012 Lost Wk 2 Lost Wk 2 2013 N/A Lost Wk 1 2014 N/A Lost Wk 3 2015 N/A

With Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk set to become the first 300-game players to run out together, the Storm have that in spades, while the Raiders are almost devoid of NRL finals experience.

And yet, the Storm should be terrified at the prospect of facing the lean, mean Green Machine.

Somehow, Blake Austin and Josh Hodgson not only returned, but starred in the Raiders' semi-final win over Penrith on Saturday.

Austin seemed untroubled by his broken left hand and Hodgson continued his impression of Smith that is so good it would not be out place on a very, very boring episode of Saturday Night Live.

Josh Hodgson somehow bounced back from a painful ankle injury in record time. ( AAP: Paul Miller )

Ad-hoc attack is kryptonite to the Storm's super defence and the Raiders make a living with offloads, second-phase play and tackle busts.

Canberra is almost always a terrifying prospect in attack and with Hodgson and Austin in the mix the Raiders are almost unstoppable, as evidenced by their 22-8 win in round 23.

Against a Storm side on a six-game winning streak, the nation's capital became a fortress that could not be cracked, mounting a defensive effort for the ages to hold out Melbourne's well-oiled attack.

It also reinforced what we already knew: if the Storm trail early, they struggle to get back into it.

If Austin and/or Hodgson were gone, this would be a completely different game, but with both back on board the Raiders are odds-on to put points on the board in a hurry even against Melbourne's historic defence.

Canberra by 8.