“But I know our team can do it.
“We are focused on communication and mindset, and fighting for everything as a team.”
Stafford said the team that fought for each other would be the team that took it on the day.
“I think the YMP women will be in the fight for sure,” commentator Tony Scragg said.
“They showed their capability against the Green Machine two weeks ago with a good win.
“But finals hockey tends to be a totally different situation.”
There is far more certainty around the likely outcome of the men’s A Grade final when YMP A take on THC, certainly based on recent results.
That match gets under way at 2.30pm tomorrow on the LJ Hooker turf at Harry Barker Reserve.
Defending champions THC have a big mountain to climb to overcome a YMP side who have comprehensively beaten them several times this season.
“We are very excited to play,” YMP’s Kohere Tupara said.
“We know the threat of a full-strength THC side, so we will have to step up to another level this weekend.”
Hanoa Morete, from THC, said his side were pumped to make another final, and were looking forward to the game.
“YMP A have been the form team all season and deserve the favourites tag, and that suits us just fine,” he said.
“They’ll want to maintain the wood they have on us this year, while we want to produce a better performance against them than in previous games.
“They are a very talented team from front to back, but we know we have the team to upset them, as we have done the past two years.
“Here’s hoping we can produce another good one tomorrow.
“The match is yet another instalment in the awesome rivalry that is THC versus YMP A.
“All the best to all teams involved in finals day tomorrow, including our YMP A brothers.”
Finals weekend starts tonight with the third/fourth playoffs games for the A- and B-grade women.
At 6pm Te Aowera take on GMC Gold in the B Grade playoff.
Those two teams have enjoyed some good games, and honours have been shared fairly evenly between them.
“Gold have had the upper hand previously, but TA have shown so much resilience . . . they cannot be counted out,” Scragg said.
“It’s a great way to start finals weekend.”
At 7.30pm, JNL Paikea and Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa meet to decide third and fourth in the women’s A Grade.
“Another close game is on the cards there,” Scragg said.
“Ngatapa have had the edge in the past couple of encounters between these teams, but they will be very wary of some of the talent in the Paikea team.
“Just a few goals will decide it.”
Ngatapa co-coach Scragg said his team finished third in the regular round and it would be great to finish third overall.
The huge Saturday programme begins with the men’s B Grade final at 11am between Gisborne Boys’ High School and Lytton Old Boys Masters.
The Masters are no doubt still cock-a-hoop after their two recent victories.
“We understand Boys’ High will be down a couple of key players, but they are a talented young side who have outmuscled the Masters all year,” Scragg said.
“There is no favourites tag in that one.”
At 12.45pm the women’s B Grade title goes on the line when GMC Kowhai play YMP B.
“Kowhai have been unbeaten throughout the whole bottom-four round, but they will go into tomrorow’s match with the most pressure to perform because of that,” Scragg said.
“It remains to be seen how YMP B will respond on finals day.
“With all these games, we are in for an exciting conclusion to our competition.”
