Tatyoon’s A Grade netball team will play Hawkesdale-Macarthur in the Mininera and District Netball Association elimination final on at Glenthompson on Sunday.
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The team will return to the finals after an eight year drought.
Coach Maryanne McDougall said they were confident about the game.
"We have beaten them twice during the season,” she said.
“But we know finals are a totally different scenario.”
With the team having been out of A Grade finals action the team is lacking some senior finals experience.
McDougall said the team had junior finals experience together but it would be a learning experience for the players.
“We have only had one of our players with A Grade finals experience,” she said.
“They should not be overawed by it though.”
McDougall said the focus would be on starting the game well and building a lead early to boost the team’s confidence.
“They have nothing to lose,” she said.
“It is up to us to protect our fourth spot and keep our season alive.”
The Tatyoon B Grade team will also face Hawkesdale-Macarthur, but it will be in the qualifying final at Mininera on Saturday.
Coach Bree Harris said the team would be attacking the game differently to their earlier encounters.
"The double chance allows us to go into the game with nothing to lose,” she said.
"We embrace the challenge on Saturday because on both previous occasions it was close.
"We go into the game with confidence that we can push them.”
Tatyoon beat Ararat Eagles 45 to 22 in the final game of the home and away season.
Harris said they would use that as motivation.
“Last weekend was one of our better games for the year so we will look to build on that,” she said.
Harris said she expects the game to be fast-paced.
"This year we have had a strong defence,” she said.
"The attacking end stepped up last weekend so hopefully they do it again on Saturday.”
The Hawks lost to Hawkesdale-Macarthur by five goals in round two and were on the end of a nine goal loss in round 13. Harris said the team has learned from both games and have clear plans to try and get the game onto its terms.
"We will be looking to maintain possession. We need to make sure that we control the pace and tempo of the game. They are pretty physical so our pressure down the court will need to continue.”
Harris said the team had confidence in their physical ability and they would fight the game out even if they were trailing in the second half.
"Our fitness is a strength,” she said.
"If we can stay within reach of them then we know we can come back in the last quarter.”
The team has a full squad to choose from for the final.
Harris said continuity was important for the team. “We have have all played a significant amount of netball together,” she said.
“So that should help them during the game. They are all experienced netballers with finals experience they can draw upon.”
The A Grade elimination final will start at 2pm on Sunday. The B Grade qualifying final will start at 1pm on Saturday.
