The Power and Warriors meet at Davidson Oval today in what will be the first April 25 match in Warrnambool and District league history.

Finn, who will use his pre-match speech to reiterate the importance of Anzac Day, said he wanted his players to treat the occasion with respect.

He has high regard for those who defended the country overseas, such as his maternal grandfather Alan “Funnel” Johnson, who fought in the Second World War.

“It’s just about honour and the fact you’re representing all those who served the country, past and present, and how lucky we are to live where we do,” Finn said.

“It’s a huge honour, I think it’s so important. The values we’ve spoken about — mateship, sacrifice, those type of things — go a long way.”

Finn predicted a “finals-like atmosphere early” at Davidson Oval, with the Power looking to knock off a 2014 finalist.

“We’ve been building up for this in terms of our first three weeks. We’re really looking forward to playing a finalist from last year,” he said.

“I definitely think the guys will go 110 per cent and be ready and hungry for Old Collegians.”

He dismissed the notion three comfortable wins would work against the Power when faced with an opponent renowned for its attack on the football.

“We would’ve played three or four solid practice matches. We’re well into our campaign now, we’re fit and hardened,” he said.

“We’ll relish getting on a big ground. We’ve got a good mix of guys who can go pretty hard on the inside and can hurt them on the outside,” Finn said.

Kolora-Noorat added Paul McSween and Justin Hicks to the side on Thursday night, at the expense of injured pair Brad Hillman and Nathan Cahir.

Old Collegians lost ruckman Zac Pickett to a serious knee injury while Josh Walsh is unavailable. Ben Rantall and Jordan Wallace take their place.

Warriors coach Daryl Beechey said his men knew the attitude and approach required of them against the Power.

He acknowledged the match “doesn’t really compare” to what soldiers, who include his late grandfather, a Second World War veteran, dealt with.

“We’ve touched a little bit on the importance of the day. We’re pretty privileged to play football on the day,” he said.

“We don’t want the boys to take it lightly, we want the boys to embrace the significance. 

“Hopefully that shines through in their performance.”

Beechey believed the Warriors entered the clash in good form. They restricted East Warrnambool to one goal in poor weather last weekend.

“Last week was good. We’re still a tad shy of stringing four good quarters together. We’ve been working on that again this week,” he said.

“It is a huge game for us in relation to the bigger picture. We look at them as a team below us in terms of last year who we need to account for.”