MATE against mate is the successful concept behind State of Origin Rugby League and that will never be more evident than in the Shoalhaven Hockey Men's A grade grand final tomorrow when the two Bluejays team are set to do battle.
Minor premiers Bluejays Navy will face clubmates Bluejays Sky in the season decider at the Bernie Regan Sporting Complex from 3.15pm.
And it should be an interesting match, the younger Sky team who finished second and actually downed their more senior counterparts who were minor premiers in the major semi-final.
The Sky came from 3-1 behind at half-time to stage a remarkable recovery and win 4-3.
Both sides have had great seasons, the Navy lost only one game in 17 matches to far and away be the minor premiers, while the Sky dropped only four games during the year.
Two players who will play major roles in defence for their teams are Rob Bailey (Navy) and Bob Herne (Sky). Bailey is a fullback, while Herne will be in the firing line as goalie.
Despite having only beaten Navy once this year, which was the major semi, Herne is still confident his side can take out the title tomorrow.
"It's going to be a tough match, especially against club mates," he said.
"Everyone knows what each other is capable of, so it should be close."
He admits they are two vastly different sides.
"We (the Sky) are a very young side with a few older experienced guys thrown in, Navy on the other hand is a gun team, they have good players all over the field and while we might go in as underdogs, we can cause an upset."
Herne believes his side will have to watch Tim Pullen, and Jack and Dennis Smart up front.
"They are very good forwards and they love to score goals, I think I could be in for a pretty busy afternoon!"
Bailey agrees it is hard to say how the grand final will pan out.
"It will be an interesting match," he said.
"The one thing I do know is there will be lots of friendly rivalry!
"One of the best things for us is that as a club Bluejays has got both teams through to the grand final.
"That shows that our willingness to produce junior players is paying off and we now have two very good teams in the local comp."
Bailey has pinpointed the player he will most probably be marking in Sky forward Nathan Woods as the danger man.
"Nathan is a very good player and we will have to watch him and then there is of course Simon Badgery, he will definitely try and control things for the Sky in the mid field," he said.
"It should be an interesting match."
And while that is all going on, spare a thought for Bluejays club coach Greg Pullen.
The coach of both sides, Pullen has been put in an even more unenviable position this weekend, as he will line up in goals for the Navy team.
"It's a pretty unusual position to be in," he agreed.
In fact the Navy side was short last week in the final and Pullen actually played out on the field for a while - it also provided him with a rare opportunity to take the field at the same time as his four sons - Matthew, Tim, Andrew and Simon.
"That was a pretty special moment in all the years we have been involved and played hockey it's the first time we have all been on the one field at the same time," he said.
And the coach, who knows the ins and outs of both sides, how does he see the grand final panning out?
"It will be a close match, we basically play the same style of game right throughout the club, so everyone knows what they should be doing," he said.
"It will be an interesting clash."
Pullen admitted to being delighted at having both men's teams in the first grade grand final.
"When we started the year we didn't anticipate this," he said.
"We had one very strong side, while the other was made up of up and coming juniors and a couple of senior players, but they have played really well and actually led the competition at one stage.
"It's a great position for the club to be in."
As well as the Pullen connection there will also be some interesting family battles taking place in tomorrow's match.
David Jones plays with one son Keiran on the Sky team while Bevin is on the Navy, while brothers Dale and Nathan Woods will also line up on opposing teams.
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