THE Bendigo Pioneers could end the season with just one victory, but they are headed for the TAC Cup finals for the first time in seven years.Under a new format introduced into the TAC Cup this season, 12 of the 13 teams qualify for finals, with only the wooden-spoon side to miss out.While the Pioneers are staring at the prospect of finishing last, Greater Western Sydney yesterday announced it would not contest the finals.That means the Pioneers will play finals for the first time since 2003, when they lost the preliminary final to the Murray Bushrangers by nine points.Under this year’s finals system, the top four teams all earn the double chance in the first week, while those that finish fifth to 12th will play elimination finals.The second week there will be four semi-finals involving teams in the top four taking on the winners of the elimination finals.The semi-final winners will progress to the preliminary finals, before the TAC Cup grand final will be played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, September 19.With the Pioneers to be the 12th-ranked team, they will play fifth, which at this stage is Sandringham – Bendigo’s opponent in the last round of the home and away season.“It’s another game for the boys and it gives them the chance to say they have played finals,’’ Pioneers regional manager Ray Byrne said yesterday.“It will be a good experience for the boys.’’The Pioneers have a bye this week, before resuming their season next Friday night under lights against the fourth-placed Oakleigh at the Queen Elizabeth Oval from 7pm.Oakleigh is the only side Bendigo has beaten this year, with the Pioneers defeating the Chargers by 38 points in round seven in a stunning upset.TAC Cup ladder after 15 rounds: Northern Knights (13-1, 178.65 per cent), Geelong Falcons (12-2, 162.0), Dandenong Stingrays (11-3, 173.0), Oakleigh Chargers (10-4, 124.6), Sandringham Dragons (9-5, 116.9), Murray Bushrangers (8-6, 103.8), Gippsland Power (7-7, 126.9), Calder Cannons (7-7, 95.0), North Ballarat Rebels (5-10, 96.8), Eastern Ranges (5-9, 78.2), Western Jets (3-12, 70.2), Greater Western Sydney (2-12, 53.4), Bendigo Pioneers (1-13, 49.1).