Wangaratta Magpies are on the verge of a rare sporting achievement, going for back-to-back flags in Ovens and Murray C grade netball.

Adding to the theatre of the match is the added interest of doing it against cross-lane rivals Wangaratta Rovers.

They hold a 2-1 edge on the Hawks in season 2025 including a win in the most recent bout in the qualifying final, but coach Rachelle 'Shel' Petts said past history was only a guide not a result in itself.

"Our focus has been on getting the basics right, working through our usual style of play and building on some of our combinations," Petts said.

"We match up quite well against Rovers across the board, and I feel like we play a similar style of game.

"This means we don’t have to adjust too much, but it also means we can’t become too predictable in our patterns of play or how we approach them in defence.

"Keeping up the intensity and working under pressure has also been key for us given we had the week off.

"We need to make sure we start out strong as we don’t want to be playing catch up like we did against Myrtleford.

"We are lucky to have a great group of girls coming along to train with us, and that’s been pivotal in our ability to keep training to a high standard, but to also have those encouraging words of advice and reminders to enjoy the experience because grand finals are hard to come by."

Petts said playing in a grand final comes with a huge amount of pressure and build up, and although she would like to say that the derby doesn’t add another layer, she confessed for many of the players out there, it absolutely does.

"Playing Rovers is always a big day locally, and while the competition is fierce, there are so many friendships and connections across both teams that it makes it a great day of netball viewing and banter," she said

"To have two Wangaratta teams playing off in a netball grand final, as well as the seniors, and then to have three other sides from Wang in a grand final is something we should be proud of as a community.

"Last weekend I was in the midst of the Rovers crowd, cheering that C grade side on to get the win, because I always want to see local teams doing well.

"Come Sunday though, we will embrace the pressure, the build up, and the crowd and do our best to walk away with that cup."

Petts said her 'ring' defenders, Jessie Knights and Phebe Gibson in GD and GK, will have a massive job on their hands against two of the most accurate shooters in the league.

"They are both premiership players from last season's side, and as a unit they work tirelessly to give the attackers opportunity to convert ball," she said.

"Lily Cairns in WD is also pivotal through our defensive end, and when she is firing she is able to intercept and deflect balls through the midcourt.

"In our attacking end, Taylor Boyle in WA/C provides us a beautiful mix of stability and consistency but is also hard to the ball and has pinpoint feeds.

"Imogen Robinson in GS has the ability to shoot a game out and gives the players around her so much confidence with her shooting accuracy.

"Immy can be hard to stop when she is on, and we know that she will need to be at her best for us to get the win."

Petts herself is in a race against the clock to be fit for Sunday but will leave the final decision as late as matchday.

Magpies C grade squad

Shel Petts - Coach

Deanne Kelly - Team manager

Shooters

Imogen Robinson

Brooke Henwood (capt)

Georgia Clark

Mids

Diaz Matthews (vice-capt)

Taylor Boyle

Shel Petts

Charlotte Woosnam

Defenders

Jessie Knights - (assist coach)

Lily Cairns

Phebe Gibson

Jess Henry

Maggie Walker

Ruby Croucher- injured