PLAYING in a NRL final - it's something that feels a little surreal to Will Kennedy but the Bathurst league talent is still determined to make sure the experience extends beyond this Saturday.
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Kennedy will line up at fullback for the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday when they meet the Canberra Raiders in an elimination final in Canberra.
While he is not a stranger to finals football - he was one of the stars of Newton's Canterbury Cup premierships side last season - Kennedy knows it is a big moment in his career.
"It's pretty crazy still, it's not long ago I was a kid thinking about watching the finals, so it's crazy and it's unreal," he said.
"This is my first real good season of NRL and my first NRL finals, it all feels so unreal to me."
Kennedy got his first taste of NRL last year, but this season the 23-year-old has cemented his spot in the number one jumper for the Sharks.
He has played 16 games at fullback and while Kennedy's NRL education is still a work in progress, he has retained his spot in the starting side for good reason.
He's scored three tries and had a hand in 11 others for the Sharks. He's been good under the high ball, strong in his kick returns and coach John Morris has acknowledged the role his talk plays in defence.
Kennedy has taken on feedback from his team-mates, Morris as well as some of those who guided him when he was playing junior league in Bathurst for St Pat's. It has aided his development.
"I think I feel pretty ready for whatever comes our way. I've got a good group of boys around me keeping me confident and the coaching staff as well," he said.
"I still keep in touch with my local junior coaches Pete Colling and Daniel Finn, they give me good feedback on how I go still which is good, it's just good hearing from them as well."
The Sharks qualified for the finals in eighth position and head into their eliminator after a 38-28 loss to the Raiders last week.
The Raiders go into the match as hot favourites, but the Sharks will be bolstered by the return of Chad Townsend, Jesse Ramien, Josh Dugan, Blayke Brailey, Siosifa Talakai and Toby Rudolf.
"It gives us a bit of confidence going into this week's game. It's a very good, grounded group of boys that we have, they steer us around and help with our calling as well, so it's good to have them back," Kennedy said.
"I think we're more focused on completions, holding the ball and that's mainly it, if we do that, that's how we play our best footy. For me it's just working with the spine, the two halves and Brails as hooker, when we're all on and working well together I think the rest of the team performs well as well."
Kennedy said he's not feeling pressured by being the underdog, in fact he and his team-mates are using that as motivation.
"Everyone is writing us off but I know we can prove them wrong. We've just got to do we on the footy field and show some action," he said.
"I don't really feel the pressure of what other people say, I think we are more worried about ourselves than what the outside noise is. If we just worry about what we do ourselves, the rest will take care of itself."
Saturday's elimination final kicks off at 5.40pm.
