Moerewa Tigers decided not to travel down to watch Hikurangi crush Takahiwai 40-10 last weekend.
Instead the minor premiers had a light training session.
Tigers' manager James Wilcox said the team had a feeling Hikurangi would come up trumps against last year's premiers.
"We had a feeling the result would go that way
- and I guess their huge win makes them favourites going into the grand final - we could only come up with 20 points against Taka," he said.
Two weeks ago in the major semifinal, Moerewa closed one chapter of their Whangarei City and Districts Rugby League campaign by defeating Mark Freeman's Takahiwai troops 24-4 at Jubilee Park.
They earned a place in the grand final with the victory, and were left to wait for the result between the fourth-placed Hikurangi and second-placed Takahiwai.
After a weekend off, Wilcox said the Tigers were raring to go with only one more training session tomorrow night left to impress selectors.
"It's going to be hard for the coach, Bill Mackie, to pick the starting line-up. And for the boys, it's just a matter of keeping their feet on the ground and concentrating on making the team," Wilcox said.
"Everyone is beatable - they (Hikurangi) beat us at home and we beat them down there."
The Tigers defeated Hikurangi 32-26 during round one this year, while Hikurangi struck back in the second round, winning 32-20.
"We will have to be on top of our game in terms of skills and fitness ... and the main thing is to play our own game," Wilcox said.
Eight of the side remain from last year's team which were turfed out of the semis by a defiant Kaikohe.
Moerewa last won the grand final in 2007.
During the second round, Hikurangi gained momentum with the influential Wihongi-Henare and Henare contingent joining the team and bolstering the ranks to see them make the minor semifinal where they pipped Portland 20-14.
Hikurangi manager Jim Lees said that with the win against Takahiwai behind them, all focus was on the grand final against Moerewa and nothing else.
Hikurangi had not secured a grand final title for years but they may be the team to do it this year.
Player/coach Joe Rau is doubtful due to his shoulder injury, otherwise Hikurangi will field their top side.
The grand final kicks off at Jubilee Park on Saturday, at 2.30pm.
