Returning for their first game in three weeks, you could forgive LILYDALE coach Colin Lockhart for being nervous.
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But having waded through the home-and-away season undefeated, the Demons' leader is confident of a strong showing against East Coast.
"We've trained with intensity the last few weeks and with no games, we are feeling pretty fresh - running on top of the ground instead of being tired," he said.
Singling out contested football as the key to a victory on Saturday, Lockhart is looking for his side to get first use of the ball to Sonny Whiting and his forward brigade following his recruit sealing his 100th major of the year.
"We have big eyes on the prize after last year's crumble and we are keen as mustard to repay the faith."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
East Coast will be without Michael Musicka for the grand final-deciding clash following suspension but coach Ned Hyland is confident his side can go where no side has gone this year.
"This is obviously the biggest task in our division and being undefeated - they are in form and feeling confident," he said.
"I still feel like the standard we played last week and when we play our team football, there's no team that is safe when we are at our best."
Hyland predicted three changes to the side that defeated St Pats by nine points after a dominant start last week.
With a straight sets exit now a possibility for the second consecutive season, ST PATS coach Alex Russell doesn't believe his side are playing bad football as they face Evandale.
"We had one bad quarter last week so we are just looking for consistency across the board," he said.
"We aren't buying into our previous wins against Evandale as finals is a different game and they've hit their straps with a full list.
"It's going to be a contested game given the conditions and I don't feel as though there's a favourite or an underdog."
Jono Lawrence will miss the rest of the season with injury as Joey Cullen steps into his spot.
As St Pats lose a key member, Evandale look set to regain one with Jordan Harris to slot back into the line-up for the first time since July.
"On their day they can be as dangerous as the best team in the competition so it should be a good game," he said.
"We need to play our brand of football. We had a bad day against them the first time and then let them get too far ahead and left it until the last minute at home but we know if we play our best football, we can match it with them."
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