IT'S become Bathurst's version of 'El Classico'.
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Much like that great Barcelona versus Real Madrid matchup, any game between Panthers and Collegians Mystified has an air of anticipation around it and it's a game which should always have a giant circle around it on the calendar.
And the circle around this Saturday meeting shines brighter than ever because it's another grand final clash between the two sides.
This is the third grand final in as many years between the two teams, and one of them hopes it will end the same way as those two occasions while the other is seeking a change.
Collegians have been one of the benchmark clubs ever since they stepped up to the first grade competition in 2017.
In that time they've lost just four regular season games out of the 43 that they've played.
Ever since they were bundled out of the 2017 finals with two back-to-back losses Melissa Noonan's Collegians team have never looked back, notching up two titles and three minor premierships.
But the difference in 2020 is the limited netball Collegians have been able to play.
They went six from six to top the ladder but haven't played any competitive netball since August 29 - a four point win over Bulldogs Verdelho.
Noonan said the team have been doing what they can to keep on top of things ahead of another highly anticipated game against the Panthers.
Having lost six players from last year there was no expectation to be in the grand final.
- Melissa Noonan
"It's a very different sort of situation compared to the last few years. The girls are all pretty active, doing different things," she said.
"We put out the call to see if we could play a game against Scots All Saints College's firsts, who were in the same situation as us. That was great to get some court time for the girls and to try out some different combinations. Training this week was also really good."
Collegians had undergone plenty of player movement at the start of 2020 and there was uncertainty over whether the team would band together strongly enough to make another grand final run.
It didn't take the team long to put those doubts to bed.
"Having lost six players from last year there was no expectation to be in the grand final so to be there is a bonus, especially in what's been a disjointed year," Noonan said.
"To go undefeated through the season was amazing. We were lucky to have Cate Matthews come back after a year off, plus two senior players come in and three juniors from our A reserve two team.
"Full credit goes to my returning athletes who did a great job helping the other players fit in and lay down the expectations for the year and for how we want to play."
The grand final gets underway at 3pm.