The Koroit small forward insisted on working at Warrnambool’s Pinky’s Pizza last night, opting to keep busy and minimise nerves before today’s clash with Warrnambool.

The 18-year-old revealed yesterday he had little time to bask in the hype of grand final week.

Earlier in the week his focus was blitzing year 12 tests at Emmanuel College and completing footy training commitments, while yesterday he had to put time into a toga costume as part of Emmanuel Day, which consists of fun-filled activities on the final day of term three, followed by his part-time job.

“On every Friday night I prefer to work. I don’t like to think too much about the game,” he said.

“I’m just buzzing to play. I’m not one to get massively nervous but the times I do get nervous is when everyone is talking about it. At tea (Thursday night) everyone was talking about it and I started to get nervous. It’s more keeping my mind off it.”

White said the frivolity at school yesterday had been a welcome distraction but he knows today he has to focus on his role with the Saints.

White, who played three senior games in 2013, has played 19 of the Saints’ 21 matches this season and despite some impressive performances as a lead-up/crumbing forward, he never thought he was a certainty to play today.

He revealed a chat with his under 18½ coach Joe McLaren after last season changed his outlook on senior footy.

“I said to Joe ‘how far do you think I can go’ and he said ‘you should be aiming to play every game next year’.

“I had never looked at it like that. I was just thinking to try and get three again, if not a few more. I never thought I would be considered a player for the finals. I’ve never seen myself as being that good.”

White said the two games he spent in the under 18½s this season was part of coach Adam Dowie’s plan to ensure he was fresh and confident for the business end.

“The last half of the season, especially the last month, I’ve played a lot better than I thought I could. Early in the season the main thing was just holding my spot every week.

“There was always that question in the back of my mind. I’m always the person who never backs themselves in. But after Wiggsy (Dowie on Tuesday night) was telling me about what he wanted me to do this weekend it brought a smile to my face, obviously realised I’m playing.”

White said his self-belief had grown in the second half of the season and he was more comfortable on the big stage.

He is no stranger to the pressure of grand finals. He played in consecutive under 14 premierships with Emmanuel Hawks (2009-10) and then a losing grand final side in his first year of under 16s in 2011.

At the end of 2012 he was unsure where he would play in 2013. But a visit from McLaren and the fact his schoolmates Jayden Brennan and George Swarbrick were heading to the Saints, convinced him to follow suit.

He said he was thriving in the Saints’ family-friendly atmosphere and was winning on and off the field.