First-year Lavington captain Michael Galvin says North Albury taught his players a painful, but valuable lesson, in the association's last grand final.
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Lavington went into the inaugural three-match series as hot favourites and recorded one of the most lopsided grand final victories in CAW history in the first game, skittling North for 87 and racing to a nine-wicket win in only 13.3 overs.
The Panthers had one hand on the title after dismissing the Hoppers for 159 in game two, but were rolled for 123.
Lavington posted a competitive 8-183 in the final game, but it's much-vaunted pace attack couldn't tear through a third time as the underdogs posted a five-wicket win.
"We certainly learnt we've got to value our wickets," Galvin said.
"A lot of people talk about our bowling attack and we're really confident in what we do with the ball, but if we get a good chance to post to really big score, we have to make the most of it."
That series was the last grand final played after last year's decider between Wodonga and North was cancelled due to COVID.
North's ability to win has almost taken on legendary status in the past two seasons.
In their five finals since claiming the 2018-19 title, the Hoppers have played five matches and won them all, including four thrillers the club could have easily lost.
"You've got to marvel at their depth, they bat all the way down to 11," Galvin suggested.
"We've seen in the last two weeks how tenacious they are and we know we're going to have to play 100 really good overs if we're going to win."
After so much was made of Lavington's pace attack two years ago, four players - coach Daryl Tuffey, Ryan and Nathan Brown and David Tassell - can finally have another crack at North in a big game.
And the Panthers deserve praise for making the decider after the long-time finalists boasted just one win from eight rounds.
"During that double header weekend (in late November) when we lost to Belvoir on the Saturday, we had a really good chat after the game and basically said this isn't how we want the season to go," Galvin revealed.
"We have the ability to turn this around, if we have the want and from that point on the buy-in from everyone has been first class."
East Albury's Alexandra Park will host the decider.
The match starts from 11.30am tomorrow, but the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a medium chance of showers, up to four millimetres.
Given rain played such a role this year, with CAW electing to implement a top eight, it's no surprise.
Sunday is a reserve day, with no rain tipped.
