The teams have split their games with one win apiece so far this summer, the Pelicans prevailing by five wickets – making a further 21 runs – in January, before the Rebels got one back just two weeks ago with a 14-run win.

Bookaar all-rounder Lucas said the close contests were indicative of the good talent in both teams.

“Heytesbury have got a very good line-up and we’ve seen what they’ve been capable of doing,” he said.

“But I’ve got confidence in the boys they can go one better than two weeks ago and hopefully go one better than last year.”

The 22-year-old said his side had a better feeling of what to expect from grand final week and the game itself after finishing runner-up to powerhouse club Mortlake last summer, but had a new challenge this year.

“There’s a lot different in the sense this year we’re playing at Camperdown and we’re playing a different opponent,” Lucas said.

“You have to change, depending on who you’re playing.

“Heytesbury haven’t been in a grand final; there’s going to be a fair bit of emotion for those guys.”

Lucas – who took out this season’s champion player, batting aggregate and bowling aggregate awards – said his form has been a reflection of the year the Pelicans have had.

He took 35 wickets at an average of 15.26, and had his best season with the bat, making 734 runs at an average of 40.93.

Lucas said, after a slow start to the season with his batting, things picked up.

“I probably was a little bit reluctant with (my batting) with the thought – it being one-dayers – my batting was better suited to the two-day format,” he said.

“I probably adapted a little bit better than I thought.

“With the guys we have, every week provided a bit of a different challenge, whether it was coming in nice and early or coming in late.”

But Lucas said he had not yet sat back to reflect on his awards, instead keeping his focus on the task at hand with the grand final.

The Pelicans booked their spot in the decider with a stirring win over the top side of the home-and-away season, Mortlake, a year after the Cats’ crushed Bookaar’s flag ambitions with a big win in the grand final at Terang Turf.

Captain Rohan Symes said while his side took confidence from the win, it had little bearing on Saturday’s grand final.

“We were rapt with the win, that’s all good but we’re just concentrating on this week now,” he said.

“They’re a great side, Mortlake – I’m sure they’ll be back with a vengeance next year – (but) we’ve really just got to move on and put all our focus towards Heytesbury this weekend.”

Symes said after patchy performances at times during the year, the Pelicans started to hit their straps just weeks out from the finals.

“We’ve been a bit patchy at times, we’ve lost games throughout the season that we shouldn’t have, but I think we’re just starting to bring it all together at the right time of the year,” he said.

“But I was always confident throughout the year that we had the side to do it, to get here.”