It’s a game the Terriers will be confident they can win, particularly playing at Billy Dunn Oval, but they face a side who have shown red-hot form in the latter stages of this year’s competition.

The Panthers beat the minor premiers in the last week of the regular season, again on Saturday, and also performed extremely well in their elimination game against Coonabarabran two weeks ago.

Gulgong captain James Carter said the Terriers are looking forward to a grand final against a club that shares a mutual admiration for each other.

“It’s a grand final that most of our fans wanted, they know that Gilgandra will bring a lot if travelling fans on the day,” he said.

“We have a bit of a friendship with them, it’s still a rivalry but we have a lot of mutual respect in a lot of ways.

“They’re good people and win lose or draw, they are always respectful and we try and do the same.

“I’m happy for them, Coonamble probably thought they would take it out with not too many challengers and both Gulgong and Gilgandra have ensured that won’t be the case.

“It’s second versus third but we finished on equal points so there’s nothing between the sides.”

Once game day eventually rolls around however, white line fever will set in and friendships will be forgotten, even if only for 80 minutes.

According to Carter it’s going to have to be a huge effort from the visitors to leave a packed Billy Dunn Oval with the trophy.

“They’re going to have to play their best to beat us, but they are a very good side,” he said.

“They will take confidence out of the fact that they have beat us twice this year, but we’re hoping the trend continues and we can win at home.

“They’ve got the Hazleton boys (Adam and Kieran) and they run a lot through their forwards with their back and front row with a lot of inside balls around the ruck, so it probably suits us a bit more than playing Coonamble.

“We’re pretty strong in the middle, we’ve just got to make sure we don’t get lazy.”

According to Carter, each side will head into the grand final relatively unknown to their opposition given that during their three meetings this year, both teams were understrength and far from their best.

Despite not winning a grand final since 2007, the Terriers have got plenty of experienced players in their squad that have tasted success and know exactly what’s required to win on the final day of the season.

Several young players who now make up the nucleus of the squad were part of junior grand finals for the Terriers and lost, and will be hoping they can use that experience to go one better this weekend.

“We have plenty of blokes in our side with cool heads in the big games,” Carter said.

“Gilgandra are a very successful club, they have been in a lot of grand finals and won a lot of grand finals, so they have that over us.

“You can put all of that away on the day though because it means nothing.”

Carter’s message to his players this during the coming days is will be clear – enjoy it. 

“Last week was the pressure game, getting the grand final at home,” he said.

“This week there is nothing we can change too much, just enjoy the week and the spotlight.

“We can win something on Saturday that no one can ever take from us.

“80 minutes of effort and we’ll have a legacy in our little town and people will always remember who was in the team.

“Before that though we need to get the win.”

Jake Griffiths

Steve Haney

Ian Vale

Dion Hollow

Ian Taurino

Travis Magro

Travis Schoular

Troy Ellery

Shane Dermott

Joel Worsley

Callam Rumming

Kurt Gudgeon

Brad James

Mathew Stott

Andrew Stott

Mitchell Squire

Luke Blyfield

Peter McDonald 

(Assistant Coach)

Tommy Jackson (Head Trainer)

Ian Barker (Assistant Trainer)

Paul Holingsworth (Head Water Boy)