OAKLANDS star Phil Goldsack hopes to inflict more grand final misery on Rand today.
Despite losing two of the past three deciders, Rand is hot favourite at home but Goldsack said that would count for nothing in the 35-over match.
Oaklands will have to pull off a massive upset to grab its first A-grade crown, with Rand unbeaten this season.
“They haven’t had the greatest record in grand finals recently,” Goldsack, 32, yesterday.
“Rand is the team to beat but it’s all about who plays the best cricket on the day.
“We think that if we play our best cricket we can win.”
Rand has been dealt a big blow, with leading run-scorer Ryan Kirkwood (291) to miss due to his own wedding.
Still, the Pigeons skipper James Kreutzberger, who tasted success with St Patrick’s, said his team side could still win its first flag in decades.
“We are getting improvement from everyone which is pleasing,” he said.
“It’s three (grand finals) in four years for us.
““It’s not like we’ve been demoralised. It’s been a couple of individual performances that have helped the other side over the line.”
Oaklands will go in unchanged from the team that defeated Burrumbuttock by four wickets in last week’s semi-final.
The Hawks have taken only 10 wickets in the past two games and will need to keep the run rate down against a team containing plenty of match-winners such as James, Chris and Mark Kreutzberger, who have made 740 runs between them.
“We just need contributions all through the side,” said gun all-rounder Goldsack, who has 253 runs for the season at 31.63 and 18 wickets at 14.83.
“If we leave it up to a couple of blokes only, we will struggle.
“If you were batting first, you would want to make 180.”
The match starts at 1.30pm at Rand.
