THEY shook hands at the pub on Wednesday night but both agree friendship won't get in the way of a red-hot contest tomorrow.

Royal Rats and defending 2005 premiers Aussies will face off in the two-day Inverell A grade cricket grand final and captains Matt Mair (Rats) and Peter Reimers (Aussies) are already feeling the pressure.

"I've had nerves since we won the final (against Oxford) on Saturday," Reimers said.

'There's always pressure, but it's healthy to have nerves."

Both sides have concerns for the match with a question mark hanging over Rats bowler Mick Viney, who fractured his hand playing for the Saints AFL side on Saturday.

Reimers was also unsure if all-rounder and a significant contributor Charlie Gardner would be available for the match, but named him to bat at No.5 in hope.

Aussies bowler Clint Connery came back to the fold in last week's final and should fill some of the void if Gardner doesn't play.

It's a stark difference to the Rats line-up that Mair said would be "fit and firing".

Both captains said it would be whoever put in the effort on the day that would come through to win the shield.

"The Rats are a scrambling side – you just can't write them off," Reimers said.

"They can be down but when so many teams would fold you can blink and the Rats can come back."

Reimers said the worrying part of the grand final would be the Rats' determination.

"The Rats have only been in the competition for two years and has made the grand final twice this year.

"What worries me is that they've been to a grand final with Oxfords in the one-day competition and lost it, so they'll be even more hungry for a win."

Mair was quick to agree with Reimers.

"We are really hungry because we thought we could win the one-day competition," Mair said.

"We probably choked with the bat and last week showed we seem to lose wickets quickly, but we can make the runs up and hopefully things will go our way this weekend."

Mair will count on the depth of his side this year, including former Staggy Creek batsman Shane Degunst and former Delungra batsman Eamon Hasselman.

Whatever the outcome, Mair said the season had been one to remember.

"It's a pleasure to captain a side like mine," he said.

"We are a side of good mates and we've had an incredible season."

© 2006 Inverell Times

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