The players will wear black armbands and call for a minute’s silence ahead of play in respect of the hard-working and popular wife of club president Jonathan.

Captain Mat Armstrong said it was a devastating blow.

“As a club it is a huge loss, whatever words you say in these situations they are never really good enough, we are all very sad to lose her,” he said.

“We will do whatever we can to support Jonathan and their family and hopefully we can get over the line at the weekend for Carmen.”

Armstrong said the Bushies would go into the grand final knowing a patient and well considered build up was paying dividends, two tough finals hardening the team for the challenge of playing minor premiers East Albury.

Nathan Thompson will be added to the line-up for the first time in the finals, while fast bowlers James Weighell and Steve Wood will be given full throttle after being kept in cotton wool during the home and away season.

“We have a lot of belief that we can win from any situation — we have strike weapons in attack and for the first time we have our strongest batting line-up all available on the same day,” he said.

“We also have the opportunity to unleash our two quickest bowlers — Weighell and Wood.

“We have kept them under wraps for most of the season because of injury concerns, monitored their progress to have them right for the business end of the competition.

“James can certainly let them go north of 140km/h, so when that is flying around your ears it is not a whole lot of fun.

“We also have a lot of depth in the batting with the No. 6 to No. 10 having all scored first grade 100s.”

But the Crows carry bragging rights into the decider, having beaten the Bushies in a one-dayer before Christmas and again in a two-day game in January.

“They have to go in as favourite — they have been the best team all season and blown their opponents off the park in the first two finals,” Armstrong said.

“They have a very good top end and we’ll have to bowl well.

“But the past two semis have helped our self belief and the fact everyone has been able to bat and bowl in both of those games means each individual goes into the game finals’ hardened.”

Wodonga’s Pat Collins, who has overseen the preparation of the pitch at the Les Cheesley Oval for today’s decider, expected it to be a belter — a 300-run plus pitch.

“That really doesn’t bother us — our home ground is traditionally a high-scoring ground so we are used to scoring and chasing big totals,” Armstrong said.

“We also have the variety in the bowling attack to deal with that — we have the two quicks and a host of other bowlers who can be called on given the circumstances — Josh Bousfield and Sam Stephens have carried the opening bowling for much of the year, while a guy like Clint Reid can tie up an end.

“It’s not like we have a side that relies on just the one player.”

Armstrong said weathering the new ball spell would be the key to Tallangatta’s chances.

“We want to make it a long game — East Albury have blown others away in their semi-finals,” he said.

“They have two good opening bowlers and if there is a bit in the wicket they can have you four or five wickets down after the new ball spell.

“And in their batting Alex Popko can hit you out of the game at the top of the order.

“So it is probably in our favour if the game goes until six o’clock on Sunday night.”

Tallangatta has charged from fifth to reach today’s Provincial grand final. Now, as the Bushies prepare to take on East Albury for the ultimate prize, a tragic loss has given them added motivation, writes BRAD WORRALL