South Wagga will welcome back experienced cricketer Terry Willis for what is likely to be his last first grade appearance in this weekend's Wagga cricket grand final.
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Willis has missed South Wagga's last three games due to injury but will return for Saturday's grand final against Wagga City at Robertson Oval.
The decider is most likely going to draw the curtain on a distinguished first grade career, spanning almost 30 years.
The 46-year-old revealed the opportunity to help South Wagga to a premiership in their centenary season was the reason he pulled on the whites for another year.
"The reality is the reason why I played this year was to get to this game," Willis said.
"It was hard last week, sitting on the sidelines, but the sole purpose of playing this year was to try to contribute to a grand final win.
"That's why I played, I wanted to have another crack and it would be awesome if it played out."
Willis conceded that this weekend will most likely be his last first grade match.
"I can't see myself playing seriously next year," he said.
"It's not so much the batting and the bowling, it's the bits in between. Fielding gets harder and it's an uncomfortable feeling to be a bit of a liability in the field.
"I'm glad I've been able to contribute well enough to earn my spot."
Willis has taken 13 wickets at an average of 16.2 with his left arm orthodox, while he has made a couple of valuable contributions with the bat and is averaging 25.
He went down late in the season with a lower calf, high Achilles problem, the latest injury to an impressive list.
Willis missed the business end of last season after a cycling accident left him with nine broken ribs, a fractured vertebra and a punctured lung.
In 2009-10, when South Wagga went on to win the premiership, he ruptured both patellar tendons attempting to take a catch.
Willis also suffered a broken jaw in the 2005 semi-final from a Brett Davies delivery.
He was determined not to let his latest injury cost him the opportunity at a premiership.
"It feels better now than it has since Christmas," he said.
"I probably could have played on the weekend but we decided to whether we could find some wickets elsewhere."
Willis will provide the Blues with another option with the ball as they look to take 10 Wagga City wickets, as quickly as possible on Saturday.
It will be his ninth first grade grand final appearance, looking for his third win, after making his debut back in 1989-90.
He would love nothing more than to celebrate the club's centenary with a premiership.
"To be honest, that's the reason why I'm playing this year," he said.
"Having played for 26, 27 years, I've been involved with a big number of guys who I'm still in contact with and still follow how South Wagga is going and to be still involved, as a player, in the centenary season is a bit unique."
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