With their finals fate in their own hands, Williamstown Senior Coach Peter German says his team has an opportunity to announce themselves as true finals contenders in the remaining three rounds of Season 2012.

Sitting seventh on the ladder with one game in hand, Williamstown are well positioned for the run home, but German is urging his men to lift to secure a spot in the top eight and better their finals chances.

Going head to head with Northern Blues (10th), Sandringham (6th) and Geelong Cats (3rd) in the closing rounds, the Seagulls have a tough fixture ahead.

Watch Williamstown's Fourth Quarter Fightback from last weekend's win over Port Melbourne on the media player above.

Williamstown have already registered wins against Sandringham and Northern Blues earlier this season, while they lost to Geelong by a mere 7 points, but German said they cannot be underestimated.

“The next three games will be good games that will really test us as a footy team and if we can pass those tests then you feel like we are ready and we deserve finals,” German said.

“We are in a situation where some of our performances early in the year, losing four close games, has put us in a position where we really need to win.

“If we can do well in them and play well enough to win that’s going to give us a good lead into finals.”

Both Bendigo Gold and North Ballarat are breathing down Williamstown’s neck for the final two spots in the top eight, yet both sides have the added hurdle of a bye round before the end of the season.

With four years involvement in the VFL, German said this year’s competition is the most even spread of teams he has seen, right down to ninth place.

“There will be a really good side to miss out on the eight. At the moment there’s not much between first and ninth,” he said.

German has also been buoyed by the young Bulldogs stocks, firmly believing Williamstown will be competitive in the finals campaign if given the chance.

While Williamstown’s solid run has been the result of a fairly even contribution across the board, the development of pacey Jason Johannisen and first year rookie Lin Jong has impressed the Seagulls Coach.

“JJ has been one player - we have always known he had pace but he has become stronger and mentally tougher and he has put that to use on the footy field,” he said.

“He has been the one for me who has stepped up from this time last year.

“Jong has shown two or three times this year that he is going to be a good player for the Western Bulldogs in time when he keeps developing his game.

Michael Talia and Fletcher Roberts have been solid pillars in defence for the VFL side, with Talia just last week being rewarded with a call up to the senior side.

“Our mainstays have certainly been Talia and Roberts in the backline - each week they have been given really big roles on the key opposition forwards.

German believes the true gauge of the player’s development will come playing in the pressure environment of finals - and he hopes his side is given the opportunity in a few weeks’ time.

“[In finals] you actually start to see who the players are who have really grown and can perform under pressure,” he said.

“Last year our grand final was a great opportunity for our players to play in a real pressure game.

Williamstown’s next game is against Northern Blues at Burbank Oval on Saturday 11th August.