Both feature some outstanding individual talents capable of changing a game on their own, both have plenty of depth when it comes to batting and bowling stocks and both head into this weekend’s RSL-Whitney Cup semi-final full of confidence and in sparkling form.

And in the lead-up to the clash even rival captains Brien and Mitch Bower sang the same tune.

“We back ourselves now more than we did before,” Brien said, last season’s premiership bringing about a chance in mindset.

“We talked about it in the past but never really got the results but now we walk out on the field knowing we can win.

“It’s a bit of a arrogance but its what you need.”

The feeling in the South Dubbo camp is almost identical, the two big wins heading into this round has the Hornets in a positive frame of mind.

“It’s good we’ve got everyone in form and everyone who has a job to do has been doing it,” Hornets captain Mitch Bower said.

“We’re playing good cricket and everyone is in a good headspace and we’re keen to give it a crack.”

The winner of the weekend’s match takes on runaway minor premiers RSL-Colts and both captains hinted they would opt to bowl should they win the toss.

The rain around the area this week, combined with the fact the No. 1 Oval pitch to be played on hasn’t had much cricket on it in recent rounds, means it is almost certain offer assistance to bowlers early on.

“I’d say it will be lively and it will play into the hands of whoever bowls first,” Bower said, with Brien echoing that.

“Other pitches having been dying a bit but they’ve been on the edges and had the most cricket on them but this one is more of a centre wicket and hasn’t been played on for awhile so it will definitely have something in it,” he said.

Brien added this match is his side’s “biggest test” with the likes of South Dubbo stars Bower, Will Lindsay and Henry Railz all producing man of the match effort in recent weeks.

“We’ve got to take early wickets and then restrict them,” he said.

“When we’ve played Souths before we’ve maybe tried to just take take wickets or restrict them but we’ve been working on some plans and we go in with a clear plan.”

And again Bower, who stated John Colwell and Josh Williams didn’t make the Souths squad, gave a similar message when saying the key for his side to advance.

“We need to bowl well and restrict their good players hitting those good balls for four,” he said, before saying a grand final has always been the aim for his side.

“We’ve said all year its been the goal and there’s no added pressure but we want to do it and give it a really good crack.”

Play at No. 1 begins at 1pm on Saturday and resumes at the same time Sunday.