The Leigh Bathman-coached outfit is gearing up for game one of the semi-finals bout against the Sunbury Jets at Boardman Stadium.
Having finished the regular season in second position, Shepparton earned a week off and safe passage through to the semi-finals.
"Thanks to our superb end to the season we have a bit of a safety net next weekend with two home games," Bathman said.
"But this weekend is huge for us, it sets the tone for the other two games.
"And Sunbury showed us they can play well up here, so if we can win down there it puts plenty of pressure on them."
Bathman likened tonight's match to a early season contest, with plenty of mystery surrounding how the sides would handle the pressure.
"It's really not too much different to when you play new sides at the start of a season," he said.
"You don't know how players or sides will react, especially in a pressure-cooker semi-final.
"It'll come down to who can adjust and handle the pressure the best.
"We just need to try play our best and we only have to be one point better than them on the night."
The Gators were hoping they can breeze past the Jets and get another crack at entering the top-tier after last year's loss in the grand final to Chelsea.
However, it was a different scenario this season for Bathman's side.
Last year, the Gators finished third and played in a cut-throat elimination final before a semi-final victory.
Having won the final four games - at an average margin of 16.25 points - the week off could impact the side's barnstorming momentum.
Bathman was honest when asked how the team had to handle having a week off this season.
"It is tough. We have tried to keep training as normal as possible," he said.
"Just trying to stay in rhythm, there has been lots of shooting and plenty of touch on the ball at training.
"But hopefully the motivation of playing finals spurs the boys on."
The Gators enter the three-game series having saluted in both games against the Jets this season, most recently in round 15 in a one-point thriller.
Shepparton will fall on its big three - star point guard Carlin Dupree, gun shooter Javaan Mumtaz and versatile tall Atem Atem - to get the wheels turning tonight.
Inspirational captain Nick Dodd will lead the charges out against a Jets outfit brimming with talent.
Talented import Ishmael Sanders is ranked fourth this season for average points a game and can shoot the lights out beyond the arc.
The Gators accounted for Sanders in the gutsy one-point win, with Dupree holding the Jets import to two points in the first half.
Bathman was looking for a combined effort from his side this time around.
"Expect our usual suspects to lead the way," he said.
"But we are going to need the rest of the group to step up, each player will have their moments."
Tonight's match at Sunbury's Boardman Stadium starts at 8 pm.