The Panthers will start as the longest outsider in a grand final since falling to the star-studded Albury in their last appearance in 2016.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"They're out to prove something, there's a lot on the line, for themselves, they haven't beaten us," Wangaratta captain Michael Newton said.

"I think they've got a few things to worry about between now and then, as we have, they're worrying about how they're going to beat us obviously."

Lavington hasn't beaten Wangaratta since round 13, 2016, with the Pies boasting an average winning margin of 23 points, which includes this year's three wins.

The Pies re-emerged as a premiership force in 2017, upsetting Albury, before falling to the Tigers in last year's grand final re-match.

The city of Wangaratta hosted the decider for the first time in 24 years, with the Pies' eight-point loss in front of their Norm Minns Oval home crowd biting hard.

"I don't want to have to experience what we did last year, the disappointment of a grand final loss," Newton said.

"It would be unbelievable, I think every club in Australia would like to win a flag on their home ground."

Newton claimed the Doug Strang Medal in 2017 with eight goals against Albury, but was kept to three last year.

One of only two players to boast AFL experience - team-mate Ben Speight played 10 games with North Melbourne - the former Melbourne forward has had an injury-interrupted year, playing just 10 games for 39 goals.

He missed seven weeks with a torn pectoral muscle and then suffered a hamstring complaint in his return against Wodonga Raiders on June 22.

Newton was quizzed if it's the fittest he's been this year.

"I'm fit, I feel pretty confident with my body now, got through two games, probably more than I've got through all year, so my body's fairly good," he said.

Newton has kicked two and three goals respectively in his last two games against Lavington, opposed to Brant Dickson.

The pair is expected to battle again and it will be interesting to see how that is umpired after the duo were involved in a number of wrestles in marking contests.

It's expected 16 premiership players from two years ago will tackle the Panthers and the skipper says the others are providing motivation.

"There's some players like Matt Hedin that haven't won a grand final, they're driving that group to get past last year's disappointment."