The Terex Australian Supercross Championships’ title contenders head to this weekend’s Newcastle final with mixed objectives – the leaders must defend with absolute resolve, and their pursuers must lay everything on the line.

The Newcastle Showgrounds will host the final stanza of a thrilling and tightly-contested series of championship battles that could well rage until the dying stages.

Hometown hero Chad Reed is the name on everyone’s lips following his dominant run of results at Phillip Island and Toowoomba. Despite missing the opening round, he finds himself with a genuine shot at the title as he heads to the event in third outright.

It will be Reed’s first race in front of his home crowd under his own TwoTwo Motorsports banner – he last competed here in 2010, riding to a resounding win in a one-off appearance.

Reed returns with a renewed confidence and customary speed, but will need luck to fall in his favour if he is to topple the Carlton Dry Pro Open points leader, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jay Marmont.

Leading by seven points, Marmont is on the verge of back-to-back titles and knows exactly what he needs to do when the gates drop this weekend.

“My aim is to finish within the top three, that would see me win the title no matter where Daniel [McCoy] or Chad finish,” said Marmont.

“I had a little practice crash last week and jarred my thumb, it pulled up a bit sore after Toowoomba so I have had a light week.

“I got in a ride yesterday and felt really good and have been keeping up my normal off bike training drill to prepare.”

Marmont admitted the conditions at the Toowoomba mudbath made for some tough going and looked forward to more a more consistent track on Saturday night.

“The thing that made it hard to adapt to for me in Toowoomba was that the track and conditions were constantly changing,” he said.

“There are plans in place to cover the track ahead of Saturday so we will have a dry track to start on come Saturday afternoon.”

Marmont’s closest challenger, CDR Yamaha’s Daniel McCoy, said he would put himself in the best possible position to challenge and take every opportunity that presented itself.

“Ideally to get it done I need to win the race and Jay needs to finish down the order – having Chad there makes it hard but not impossible,” said McCoy.

“I need to just concentrate on my own race and what I have to do and hope the rest falls into place.

“I need to put myself in the best position possible in terms of gate picks and finish in front of Jay to make anything happen.

“I rode safe in Toowoomba and didn’t take any risks – this is the last round and now I just have to go for it.”

McCoy has an eight-point advantage over a trio of riders sharing equal third place.

Reed, Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Todd Waters and McCoy’s factory Yamaha teammate Lawson Bopping all come into round four on 50 points, setting up an entertaining battle.

Positions three through eight are separated by just 10 points, with the likes of Moss, Simmonds and Boyd all waiting to pounce when the 20-lap main event gets underway.

Gates to the pit area open from 3:00pm, with heat racing from 6:30pm. General Admission and Trackside tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at www.ticketdirect.com.au.