After nearly five months the 2018-19 Grampians Cricket Association season will come to a close this weekend.
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Swifts-Great Western will be on the hunt for back-to-back premierships, taking on Buangor-Tatyoon in the A Grade grand final.
The teams have rich recent history against each other, with the Combine defeating Buangor (prior to merging with Tatyoon) in two of the last three grand finals.
They will play from Saturday to Monday.
B Grade minor premiers Chalambar will take on Rhymney-Moyston in the other grand final being played over the long weekend.
The sides will play a best-of-three one-day series, starting at Gordon Street Oval on Saturday, then Moyston on Sunday and back to Gordon Street on Monday if required.
Sam Cocks will lead Swifts-Great Western in the search for the second consecutive A Grade premiership while Buangor-Tatyoon captain Michael Harricks will look for the ultimate success when he leads the inaugural combination team.
Cocks has had another outstanding year leading the Combine in their premiership defence, scoring more than 500 runs - including three centuries.
He said confidence has been key to his solid year with the bat.
"Confidence is a wonderful thing in cricket. Making some runs at Country Week gave me that little boost after Christmas," he said.
Despite another long five-month season, Cocks said the love of the game made coming back and performing easier.
"I've played cricket nearly all my life, the blokes you have around you makes it worth it," he said.
"I love being able to lead these guys as captain - it's a great privilege to have."
Despite having overcome Buangor in last year's decider, Cocks said nothing is guaranteed this weekend.
"We just need to keep doing what we're doing and not take what we have done for granted," he said.
"It's never easy - whether you're going for your first or back-to-back."
Cocks has played in multiple premierships with the Combine but said a win this weekend would be special.
"The big one was the first A Grade flag I won here after moving from Rainbow, but a chance at back-to-back with these guys is something that would be great to pull off," he said.
Cocks and Harricks are likely to go head-to-head at the weekend. Cocks will open the batting for Swifts-Great Western while Harricks will take the new ball for his side.
"He has been a good bowler for a long time - you always know what you'll get from him," Cocks said.
"He toils away and gives nothing away for free. We will do our best to keep him wicketless but it should be a good battle."
Harricks has put in a high-class performance with the ball during 2018-19 - claiming 29 wickets for the season and placing himself second in the number of wickets taken for the second year in a row.
"Going up against a batsman like Sam and working out a game plan is a tough one," he said.
"And following on from him - you can get one out but they've proved they have the depth for more batsmen to come in.
"It's a grand final, you never know what can happen. It's about keeping up the pressure, not letting them score and being consistent."
Harricks has played all his cricket at Tatyoon - beginning when he was 10 years old in the under-13 competition.
"I love the team aspect of cricket," he said.
"I play golf during the winter but to play with your mates and to play as a team would be the number one thing I enjoy."
Harricks has lead the team for the past three seasons and also captained a B Grade team years before.
"I was nervous initially taking on the role - due to my age and there were some older players around the club," he said.
"It's within my nature to naturally lead - given my occupation as a teacher.
"I just love getting out there and having a bowl to the younger boys and giving them some direction with their game."
Harricks said he would love this weekend to be a repeat of one of his favourite cricket memories.
"My first A Grade cricket premiership was in 2011-2012," he said.
"We were playing against Great Western and got beaten in first innings - I think we made about 90.
"We ended up reverse out-righting them.
"During the years to follow, Tatyoon went on to win two more A Grade flags to claim three in a row."
Country Week is always a highlight for cricketers lucky enough to go within the region and 2018's campaign holds a special place in Harricks' memory.
"When we won the flag last year was pretty special," he said.
"I was lucky enough to get the winning run when we were nine down was a great feeling.
"The chance to go away to Country Week and Junior Country Week with a good bunch of blokes and play as a team is another highlight."
