Coach Brian Bertolin said his side have put in plenty of work to get to this point in the season.

"We have done it the hard way with the boys being on sudden-death games for the last six weeks," he said.

"Six weeks ago we were in fifth place, and I think that if we had of lost at any time up to know we would have been out of it.

"They have been pretty gritty, and they are excited to get through to the big dance."

The side is coming into the game off the back of two 3-2 wins against Tolland and Leeton United respectively, and Bertolin knows his side are in for another tough match this weekend.

"Lake Albert will be a very tough game. They are the benchmark team in reserve grade," he said.

" I believe they have won the last four competitions and beat us last year in the grand final 2-0 so we have another tough road ahead."

While it is a rematch of last year's decider, a large turnover in players means there are only four players remaining from the team that lost to Lake Albert last season.

"Out of the 16 that went on last year there are only four players from that team that are playing," he said.

"It is a vastly different side with 12 new players, and I guess in one way it isn't the worst thing, there might be no scars from last year in that regard."

Bertolin feels this weekend will come down to who is able to settle quicker into the game.

"I think grand finals are won in between the ears," he said.

"A lot of the time guys can panic a bit, and the game goes past them and then you are playing catch up.

"The team that settles quickest will probably get on top and will have the best chance of taking it out."

While the side is nursing a couple of knocks heading into this weekend Bertolin is confident come Sunday, he will have his full squad at his disposal.

The Gardiner Shield game will kick off at 11.15am on Sunday morning at McDonald Park in Wagga.

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