DUBBO Demons under-17s will start as warm favourites to claim the Central West AFL flag on Saturday in Bathurst but coach Will Bunt is cautious about what the Young Saints can deal up to them.
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The reserve grade premiership is also in sight of the Demons having to play Orange Tigers while in first grade Bathurst Bushrangers start hot favourites to beat Cowra Blues.
It's been another impressive year from the Demons who were unbeaten in 2011 and have lost just one game this season - to Bathurst in the first round.
But the coach and his players have seen little of the Saints, hence Bunt's wait and see approach to the game.
"This is the danger game for us and they are the danger team - one that is relatively unknown to us," he said.
"We got a forfeit from them and then played them in the wet which wasn't much of an indication of what was their style of football, or how we would play them in the grand final.
"That can of course be an advantage.
"We won't be changing things or the way we play the game. Our strength is working on our basic and simple skills and have the football in the hands."
After what Young has provided in the finals so far, Bunt has to be on his toes.
The Saints were placed fourth on the competition ladder and not considered major contenders - until they got through the first week against Bathurst (106-61) and then smothered Orange Tigers in the final last week 97-55.
Last time out for the Demons was their demolition of the Tigers in the major semi-final when they kicked 12-10 (82) to Orange's 3-2 (20) to book their place in the grand final.
Bunt insists it has been a team effort to get into the grand final.
"We've got 25 players on our roster and had two good training sessions this week," Bunt said.
"Providing everyone does their assigned jobs we have the focus to work together as a team - then we will get the desired result."
Bunt also issued a warning to other clubs in Central West about next season: "My reckoning is that we'll lose only two players from this year's squad. So we're looking forward to being one of the major teams again in 2013."
Meanwhile, Dubbo's reserve grade unit has the firepower to get the job done.
There is a nice mixture of experienced former first graders and a number of others playing the game for the first time this season.
Their biggest asset is their unpredictability.
* Dubbo under-17s: Dean Gould, Angus Brayshaw, Harley Bye, Mike Jeffrey, Tom McKenna, James Brook, Jake Rees, Jake Walters, Lachlan van Dartel, Joe Pisciotta, Mike Pisciotta, Jayden Wallace, Callum Maljers, Lachlan Harper, Sam Whalan, Sam Maljers, Marc Shaw, Alex Randell, Terrance Belgardt, Dylan Dutschke, Tom Reid-Worrell, Josh Wilesmith, Ben Patterson
* Dubbo reserve grade: Michael Haley, Dale Lawrence, Shane Pierce, Jacob Pearce, Daniel Herd, Malachi Dutschke, Michael Lorimer, Lachlan Mylecholane, Shane Collier, Alex Mylecholane, Shayne Wilesmith, Andrew Pearson, James Hodges, Mark Pay, Noel McGrath, Leo Mahoney, Trevor Dutschke, Dave Hazell, Corey Williams, Rod Mildner, Alan Eggleton, Sam Whalan, Jackson Mawbey, Joel Watterson.