In eighty minutes one side will ascend to the highest level in the ASRL competition. They will earn the honour of competing against Perth to decide the 2001/2002 ASRL premier.
The team which finished 1st, Gold Coast, play host to the fast finishing New England side- who finished 3rd after the regular season. The likes of Johns, Rodwell and Eeles would have to lift in the absence of Buderus and Harrison for the Crusade. Whilst Walker and Ikin would have to be at their best to down a red-hot Gold Coast side.

Here we have the analysis of both sides, and where they can win it.

FULLBACKS
Kris Radlinski vs. David Peachy
A great battle to kick things off. Radlinski is a brilliant defensive fullback, whilst Peachy is one of the most entertaining attacking players in the ASRL. Neither player has had an exceptional season, and whichever one fires tonight could win the match.

WINGERS
Brian Carney and Marcus Bai vs. Albert Torrens and Martin Offiah
Some stars battle it out here. Two Great Britain reps and a Papua New Guinea. Bai has been brilliant this season, and is trying to go out with a high, as he heads back to Port Moresby at the end of the season. Carney has been a revelation for the Crusade, whilst Offiah has come into his own of late. Torrens was a hero last week, and will look to emulate that this week.

CENTRES
Kamaal Lolesi and Brett Mullins vs. Matt Cooper and Shane Elford
Gold Coast's regular centres are gone, and so young Kamaal Lolesi and Parramatta bound Brett Mullins come into the side. Mullins and Lolesi have both performed well when called up, but may suffer from being underdone against the more experienced pairing of Cooper and Elford.

FIVE EIGHTH
Laurie Daley vs. Ben Ikin
A great battle in the offing, with a past great coming up against a future one. Daley has been good all year since joining the side from Perth, but Ikin will be his greatest test. Ikin has been quiet in the finals, and is set to explode in tonight's match.

HALFBACK
Andrew Johns vs. Adrian Lam
Another intriguing battle. Johns is the game's best player, but has had a quiet season. Lam on the other hand is underrated, and will look to impress before heading to Papua New Guinea to ply his trade. Johns is a better player all over, but Lam's leadership could be a real staple point for the Ferrets' attack.

PROPS
David Raelke and Josh Perry vs. Kevin Iro and Andrew Hart
The youngest prop combination in the ASRL will get a pounding from experienced Iro and Hart. The New England props have been a revelation in the finals, and will look to stamp their authority on another side here. Perry and Raelke are both second choice props, and may find it hard to match up.

HOOKER
Matthew Rodwell vs. Ben Walker
The journeyman of positions will need to aim up if he's to contain Ben Walker. Rodwell has played centre, halfback, lock and five eighth this season, and can add hooker to his resume after tonight's match. Walker is the key to New England victory, and how well Rodwell contains him will decide the match.

SECOND ROW
John Eeles and Jason Croker vs. Chris Joynt and Bryan Fletcher
You won't find many more experienced campaigners than the four presented here. All have representated their country at some point, and all are recognised as some of the game's best forwards. Eeles and Fletcher are ball-players, as is Croker, with Joynt being known for his heavy hitting. A dead heat.

LOCKS
Chris McKenna vs. Paul Smith
Two bright talents in a battle of epic proportions. McKenna fills in for Harrison, but should be right at home in lock. Smith finally gets the chance he deserves, in what could be his last game at New England. Smith and McKenna are prolific try scorers as well.

GOLD COAST BENCH
Willie Peters will leave the side at the end of the season, but will look to impress his new club with a good game here. His kicking game adds new depth to the Crusade. Carstens, Carlaw and Pongia are the kind of no-nonsense forwards that other sides wish they could have on the run-on, and will greatly help the Crusade go forward.

NEW ENGLAND BENCH
Trindall is always potent, while ball playing forward Lee Harland gets a chance to cement a Grand Final spot should he play well here. Koopu is the second forward replacement, whilst Jorgenson's speed could be a game breaker if he's injected at the right time.

KEY MATCH UPS
Rodwell vs. Walker
Radlinski vs. Peachy
McKenna vs. Smith

PREDICTION
Gold Coast's injuries to catch up with the. New England by 8.

Chris Walker-Bush

FULLBACKS
Kris Radlinski vs. David Peachy
Peachey has not performed for the ferrets this scoring and is in good form though, scoring 2 of his 4 tries this year in the last two games.

WINGERS
Brian Carney and Marcus Bai vs. Albert Torrens and Martin Offiah
Martin Offiah has provided another point for the Ferrets to work around this year with the veteran sluming over the line plenty of times this season. The powerful opposite number of Bai is sure to be one of the matchups in my mind. Torrens is another of the ferrets more inexperienced players and is taking on a player of good calibre

CENTRES
Kamaal Lolesi and Brett Mullins vs. Matt Cooper and Shane Elford
Kamaal is fresh from the lillypoad at the big day out this Woolgoolgalite has munched his curry, packed his turban and is ready for a grand final. Matt Cooper And Shane Elford are are a good combo of centers but lack experience in finals football and are just as likely to crumble under the pressure.

FIVE EIGHTH
Laurie Daley vs. Ben Ikin
With Ikin taking Peacheys captaincy away from the fullback, the Ferrets coach hopes Ikin will do as good job as Peachey did all season. Ikin will look to set the field on fire tnight with his promotion. Laurie Daley is a class player and this will be one of the other key matchups.

HALFBACK
Andrew Johns vs. Adrian Lam
Lam is totally outclassed here and looks to do his best playing against one of the games greatest ever. Johns posses everything that makes the Gold Coast a success, and if they were to lose Johns in the game, it would be devestating to the Crusade

PROPS
David Raelke and Josh Perry vs. Kevin Iro and Andrew Hart
Andrew Hart is turning out to be a better player than first thought for the ferrets and Kevin Iro has tried and tried all season but to no avail. The much younger combination of the opposition is set for a smashing (hopefully).

HOOKER
Matthew Rodwell vs. Ben Walker
What else can I say than Ben Walker=god (in the coaches mind). The best player for the ferrets this year looks set to burts out of his skin in the grand final if they make it. In the more immediate game, I see Walker stamping his authority all over Rodwell.

SECOND ROW
John Eeles and Jason Croker vs. Chris Joynt and Bryan Fletcher
Bryan Fletcher has made a courageous reaturn to the field right in the middle of the most important part of the year after that embarrsing injury that kept him sidelined so long. Chris Joynt is as lethal as Fletcher and will look to offload at even half the rate of Fletcher and it will be a good start.

LOCKS
Chris McKenna vs. Paul Smith
The deperting Smith looks in good touch after replacing Farrel for this game. Smith and Farrel have had an ongiong dispute where it got to the stage that Smith got up and packed his bags and is leaving the ferrets. The other guy i have never heard of. Is he a Shark???

KEY MATCH UPS
Rodwell vs. Walker
Bai vs. Offiah
Johns vs. Lam

PREDICTION
Ferrets by 2

Rowland Kelly
New England Ferrets Coach