The Sharks have been part of the finals action for the past six years and coach Josh Hannay says the bid to make it seven lies in their own hands.
But after a 40-22 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles to complete round 20, Hannay said there would be "plenty of leap-frogging" involved to get there.
The Sharks dropped to eighth on the NRL ladder, with the Titans jumping up into seventh spot. They are two of five teams now stuck on 18 competition points with five rounds left to play.
"It's going to be that way to the very end. There's going to be ups and downs, ebbs and flows and teams leap-frogging each other from one week to the next," Hannay said.
"So we can't be focused on other results and what other teams are doing. We need to control our own destiny by winning games of footy.
"We've got a five-day turnaround into the Warriors so we won't dwell on this for too long - we just don't have the time to."
Match Highlights: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Hannay hopes to have five-eighth Matt Moylan back from a calf injury for that game, which would push Connor Tracey back to the centres.
"There's probably five quality first-graders not out there tonight," he said, "And Matt might be one of those guys who's back this week - we'll see."
What will be interesting is how Hannay handles Will Chambers, and whether he keeps his place at left centre.
The former Test centre was hooked in the 66th minute after letting out a verbal tirade against Manly utility Dylan Walker, and then keeping the chit-chat coming.
Hannay displeased with Chambers' chirp
"I didn't enjoy it. I think when you're behind on the scoreboard I'm loathe for our guys to be too chirpy," Hanny said.
"Everyone knows that Will likes to be chirpy out there and get under people's skin.
"It's first game back for a while and I know he was really fired up and keen to get back into it - it's been a fair journey for Will to get back out on the field.
"But he probably let his emotions get the better of him there."
Hannay said none of his players complained about the Suncorp Stadium playing surface which hosted all eight games in round 20 due to Covid-enforced rescheduling of venues.
Kennedy gets on the outside of Parker
"At no time did it cross my mind that it was an issue there tonight. It probably, understandably, looks chopped up and a bit unsightly.
"But there was no feedback from our players and I don't think it affected the spectacle of the game. There was a lot of footy played in a free-flowing game."
There was indeed with 62 points scored, including 11 tries.
