This Saturday, the Astor Rats will take on the Warriors in the grand final of the Goulburn District Cricket Association Second Grade competition.
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The Rats began the year with a bang, defeating the Gordon Goats in the first round, and the Warriors in the fourth, which saw them climb into the top four, where they have stayed since.
Though they didn't manage to qualify for the First Grade finals, the Rats went straight into the grand final of the Second Grade competition.
"Our season's been not too bad, a little bit up and down," Astor veteran Shane Munroe said.
"But we have been the dominant team in Second Grade, winning the T20 comp as well. We were the only team to beat the Stags in the T20 competition, and they ended up winning the First Grade.
"We just need to get a little bit more consistent."
The second spot in the final was claimed by the Warriors, who hammered the Gordon Goats in last Saturday's semi-final by 84 runs.
Ahead of this weekend's final, Munroe said the Rats were not short on confidence - in fact, some in the team may be overconfident.
"We are confident, we've got every right to be," he said.
"Some of the younger guys are probably a little bit overconfident, but the older boys in the team will make sure they realise you have to win a grand final. Just because you've been the best all year, doesn't mean you'll just turn up and win it."
Such wariness might do the Rats good, as the Warriors have recently strung together some good results.
In round eight, they beat the Gordon Goats by four wickets, and the next week, they defeated the Tatts Stags 18 runs.
Though they lost to the Rats in round 10, it was only by the narrowest of margins.
"In that game, we were 3-80, and then we were 9-104. We just collapsed," Munroe said.
"Myself and the number 11 [Ronnie Hogg] put on nearly 20 ... it wasn't all bells and whistles for us, that's for sure."
The Rats scraped through with a 26-run win, but only after the Warriors had a similarly devastating collapse in the second innings.
Ahead of this weekend, Munroe is expecting another tough game, but is confident the Rats can handle the pressure of a grand final.
"We don't intend it to get tight on Saturday, we're going to go pretty hard," he said.
"When the pressure comes on, that's when we like to play cricket together."
Meanwhile, this Saturday's third grade grand final will feature Hibo Green and the Tatts Stags.
Both teams were victorious in their semi-finals on the weekend, over the Marulan Madbulls and Hibo Gold respectively.
The Stags will go in as significant underdogs, as they take on a powerhouse Hibo Green outfit which has only lost one match all season and holds a hefty eight-point lead at the top of the ladder.
The key to the match for Hibo Green is its batting, which has been well-bolstered by the form of Cody Ginkel this season. The wicketkeeper-batsman has scored 187 runs at an average of 46.8 this season, which includes an unbeaten 97 in semi-final.
However, the Stags are well-equipped in the batting department, and the form of Sam McDonald (74*) and Jacob Kara (77*) in the semi-final will be a particular boost.
The Second Grade grand final between the Astor Rats and the Warriors will be played at Prell Oval on Saturday, March 13, from 1pm.
The Third Grade grand final between Hibo Green and the Tatts Stags will take place at Carr Confoy at the same time.
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