The last time Tamworth and Walcha faced-off in a top level final most of the players wouldn't have yet picked up a football. Some of them wouldn't have even been born yet.
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On Saturday the two sides will do battle at Walcha for the first spot in the New England grand final.
It's the first time they have met at this stage of the premiership race for, estimations are, over 20 years, and if their round encounter is anything to go by it promises to be a cracking contest.
It was the match of the season so far, the Rams sneaking home by a point.
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After contesting the last three Central North grand finals, pushing Pirates all the way in two of them, they have almost from the moment it was announced that they were joining the New England competition been the title favourites.
But they have found a willing adversary in a Magpies side that has been growing in confidence every game and is skipper James Bracken said still improving.
"This year we've been improving each week and we're still doing that even today," he said after their final round win over Barbarians.
He couldn't be much happier with the position they are in heading into the finals, and said the excitement is starting to build, although they aren't getting too far ahead of themselves.
For good reason. Last season they were in the same position but lost the major semi-final and then qualifying final to fall just short of the decider.
The Magpies' first finals action since 2015, Bracken is one of only a few of the current side that experienced last year's heartbreak.
That being said there is a lot of finals experience. The likes of Scott Blanch have played a lot of finals footy, which it is readily acknowledged is very different to the regular season.
"We're looking forward to it, it's going to be a big game, Walcha's always tough there and we don't expect anything different," Bracken said.
"We do know coming into the finals now it is do or die. I know we've got a second chance if the result doesn't go our way, but we need to step up."
Despite the obvious disappointment of their round loss, the Magpies took a lot away from coming so close and are confident if they can fix their mistakes they can turn things around.
"They're good at the ruck, we need to improve there," Bracken said, adding that they also need to "step it up in the forwards" to provide clean ball for half-back Rob Stirzaker.
He comes back in after being unavailable for the last two games.
Mitch Watts and Jeremy York are also back from injury, but they have lost second rower Tom Lee and outside centre Richard Clegg.
It will be a big day for the Magpies with second and third grade also playing major semi-finals.
In both they face the Harbour Knights.
The action kicks-off at 11.10am with third grade.
