The firm friends have schooled together and played on the same club and representative sporting teams for the most part of their young careers.

However, Tuesday night will see them squaring off on Wagga Touch Football’s biggest stage.

O’Connell’s Young Guns are preparing to take on defending premiers AKW Jets and recent history suggests another close encounter.

The two sides met in last year’s decider – a thrilling affair won by Jets – but Young Guns have been the dominant force this season, storming into finals with a nine-game unbeaten streak and three successive wins over Jets.

Still, it’s hard to keep a good team down and Jets had the last laugh during their most recent encounter.

“We’ve been really good all year and hadn’t lost a game until the (major) semi final,” O’Connell said.

“I think we just got a bit nervous, didn’t play that well, and Jets are a really experienced team.”

The pair were on opposite sides during last year’s grand final and O’Connell is eager to turn the tables on her good mate this time around.

“It’d be great to get one over them, hopefully we can do it.”

Randal, however, has other ideas, branding her side “a better team” in the finals cauldron

“I think we just play better under pressure,” Randal said.

“We weren’t that good earlier in the year but we’ve got some national players on the side and we always seem to be a better team in finals.

“Maybe it’s the experience but yeah, I think it just suits us playing finals.”

Either way, the girls are expecting a tight contest at the death.

“It’ll probably go one for one I reckon,” Randal said.

“We hate getting scored against and always try to score straight back.”

O’Connell agreed, noting her side are notorious fast starters while tipping a “close game”.

“We usually always score first but our second halves aren’t as good.”

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