The 24-year old was an instrumental figure in Robb College's drought-breaking New England premiership success last season, the students lifting the Sawers Shield for the first time since 2000.

For the Rams the wait has been even longer.

They haven't held the symbol of Central North supremacy - the Heath Shield - since 1997.

Saturday will be their fourth attempt since, and second at home, and Bucknell can't wait.

"It will be pretty exciting seeing Walcha with a grand final here," he said.

The Inverell native has been a handy pick-up for the Rams, ably filling Pat Keen's shoes after the Country centre moved to Sydney to ply his trade there.

"I came down here for a bit more experience. I'm working on a property south of town here," he said.

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Named the player of the finals series last year, Bucknell has carried that form with him to the Rams.

In his first game for the Rams he was named players' player and picked up the three points, and has continued to impress ever since.

"I've been pretty happy with his form this year," Rams co-coach Barry Hoy said.

"He's pretty reliable in defence and pretty handy in attack."

He noted how often he seems to break that first tackle.

"He's a strong runner. He pulls out of a lot of tackles," he said.

Bucknell admits he "got lucky" with the Rams, not just in regard of being part of what is widely-regarded as the best backline in the competition.

"[I'm] lucky the place where I took a job [has] got a good footy side, I suppose, and a good group of fellas, too, and not just the footy side [of it]," he said.

Slotting into what was a pretty well-established backline, Bucknell felt it probably took a little while to bed down the combinations.

"I felt like we like didn't gel for a while, especially my position, but it's come together a bit at the end there," he said.

The backs will be a key weapon for the Rams as they try to end Pirates' three year reign.