While the Whites were never expected to beat the competition heavyweights in the Vikings, who are yet to taste defeat in 2014, coach Adam Fahey knows just how important it will be to break the competition deadlock in the weeks to come.

Despite the loss, favourable results elsewhere in the competition kept the Whites in second place on the ladder, with the Gungahlin Eagles and Western Districts Lions still within bonus point wins reach of them.

The worst weather conditions seen during the competition to date did not help the Whites execute their game plans last Saturday, but with conditions expected to be vastly different this Saturday for their home clash against the struggling Canberra Royals, Fahey said there would be no excuses for any slides.

"The Royals have got their cattle back now from injuries, and their coach Russ Ingram is a very shrewd operator, and we lost this corresponding game last year," said Fahey.

"I dare say they'll start firing up this Saturday. It's always a danger game playing a team that's coming off a loss."

Fahey said it would be ideal for his men to win all remaining matches for the season, but their focus was on "their own destiny" to keep improving each individual's game play.

"There's no mathematical equations related to it, we've just got to win footy games to finish second and then we'll get a second chance in the semi- finals," he said.

"We control where we finish. It's not a case of 'if this team wins or if this team loses', it's we win, we're in second."

Dan Penca played a blinder in his 100th game and was labelled by Fahey as the best on ground in his effort.