The Lions last won the silverware in 2012 and will be pinning their hopes on a blend of youth and experience, and a bit of  an X factor.

“We’ve predominantly got a young team but we do have a few older heads to add a bit of direction and stability,” head coach Jason Lincoln said.

He threw out names like James McKern, Greg Hill and Livi Sili in the forwards, and John Roberts and Daniel Ah-See in the backs.

Lincoln is realistic they are going to do it tough. 

Far North Coast first-up will be a tough encounter.

“We know they’ve got a very big pack,” he said.

“And we know they can produce some good backs.”

Then if they get past them, they’ll face, in all likelihood, a Central West side that won’t be satisfied with anything but winning the silverware.

They play Mid North Coast preceding the Lions.

A loss doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all over for the Lions, with the best loser out of the two semi-finals meeting Western Plains later this afternoon for a spot in the final.

With the squad  they have got, the Lions want to play an expansive style.

At the same time, Lincoln said, they recognise they do have to have an alternative structure to use as the game goes on.

One of the notable selections is Albies fullback Dan Sweeney at five-eighth.

It’s not a foreign position for him and Lincoln believes he offers a lot for them there.

“He speeds up our work at first receiver,” he said.

And he will be a good foil to Navi Tiko and  Roberts outside of him.

“We see our backline as a strength for us, especially the centre combination,” Lincoln said.

Tiko has been strong for the Blues while Roberts has been  the best, or one of if not, players in the zone for the past five years, and him running off Tiko should open up some opportunities for them.

“We think they’ll be able to penetrate working together,” he said.

Both have been in good form for the Blues, as has Charlie French in the scrums for Albies.

“And we’ve got a very competitive backrow, with Will (Archer) and Ollie (Bartlett) and shored up by the strength of Liva (Sili),” Lincoln said.

Sili will have a predominantly on-ball focus but will be well backed-up by his back-row cohorts.

Both are also good on the ball and good scavengers.

There are some good ball runners among the forwards too.

The other encouraging thing is the strength on the bench.

“Usually we struggle for depth,” Lincoln said.

“Because so many players have made themselves available we’ve got good depth.”