IT may be a different scenario for the Inverell Saints to be playing the grand final tomorrow in Tamworth this year, but that is not going to stop them from trying their hardest to get their second premiership in a row.

The Tamworth Kangaroos may have the upper hand, earning the right to play at their home ground No 1 Oval and Saints coach Dick Gleeson admits it is going to be tough.

“But the main thing is we are staying confident,” Gleeson said.

The Saints lost their chance of hosting the grand final when they lost to the Kangaroos in the major semi-final two weeks ago, although they have learnt a lot since that devastating day.

When they took on the New England Nomads on the weekend, they were a completely different team and Gleeson knows they will turn around their game again tomorrow.

“I am very proud of the boys for fighting back and it just shows they still have the hunger and desire to go back-to-back this year,” he said.

“Last Saturday was a great achievement and it is very pleasing they made it, once again, to the grand final.

“They need to play that team game again this weekend to be able to get it over the Roos.”

Gleeson said concentrating on the game plan was the most important thing.

“We need to make sure we have good control over Dan Oberon and Andrew Hawkins – they are two of the Roos’ best players and very tall.

“They are the favourites, especially because they have the home advantage and the crowd, but we will be working hard.

“We have addressed the problems of the major semi-final but now it is anyone’s game.

“We are confident we can win it but we realise it is going to be bloody hard.

“It also depends on what the weather conditions are like on the day as to how we will be positioned, but we sure as hell will be playing better than we did a fortnight ago.”

Gleeson said the team would be at capacity tomorrow.