With only one and six points separating the teams in their home and away matches, Allen said yesterday he would be surprised if either side took complete control.

“The teams seem to match-up well and I think I’ve had two wins and two losses in my time as coach,” Allen said.

“It’s always been tight and I can’t see either side getting it all their own way on Sunday.

“We were a bit flat last week and turned the ball over too much.

“The boys trained well and seemed fired up so hopefully that’s a sign of things to come.

“It’s going to come down to who can win the ball in the middle of the ground I reckon.”

While the Wodonga Raiders have assumed the tag of favourites on the back of their win against North Albury last weekend, both sides are loaded with finals rookies and the result could come down to the side that settles best.

Andy and Ross Hill, Karl Norman, Danny McLaughlin, Brian Tavare and John Conroy are the mainstays for the Hawks and will need to be on song, but youngsters Dale Martin and Jim Ivill have had run-with roles in recent weeks and could find themselves trekking Mark Doolan and Tom Langlands.

Allen is confident his charges can respond to the challenge.

“It’s good to be playing finals again,” he said.

“It’s been too long for the club.”

Wodonga Raiders have thrown Dean Heta into the ruck with good results in recent weeks which has allowed Scott Meyer to settle the back six and if he can break even with Karl Norman, the Raiders should be well on the way to the first semi-final.