Reigning premier Skipton had some tough decisions at selection last night, making just one change to the team which won the preliminary final.

Matthew Hind returns to the line-up with Brendan Partridge making way.

Partridge has played every game this year and is desperately unlucky to miss out.

Kiernan Molloy is a big game player and is the key to success for the Emus.

Added to Molloy will be the hunger of Tim and AJ Beacham, who were the club's big name recruits this year, and Adam Slater and Scott Fletcher, who each returned to Skipton this season.

Brett Conroy and Joel Riske will be keen to get on top early in the game and not play catch-up football like they did two weeks ago against Lexton.

Lexton has the same team which beat Skipton in the second semi-final.

Cohan Poulton and co-captain David Impey were the ones to miss.

Impey injured an ankle in the qualifying final and has not fully recovered, despite being named as an emergency with Poulton.

The back six is the key to a Tiger victory.

They have defeated Skipton twice by not allowing the tall Emu forwards access to the ball.

Zac Thorne, Mark Shaw and Mark Sheehans job will be to bring the ball to the ground where the swoopers of Hugh Briody and coach Eamon Johnson will come into their own.

Wingmen Rob Mosby and Jay Robins will have plenty of work to do going back to help the defenders but will also need to push forward to give Nic Locandro, Dale Larkin and Brett Pryor opportunities.

The Lexton forwards will need to be clean with ball, but against the tight Skipton defence it will not be an easy job.

Johnson said the lack of injuries to Lexton has contributed to the small turnover of players, and the chance of playing together more often.

Other than Impey, Aidan Jewell was the only other main injury during the year. He has not played since round three after suffering a broken leg. Skipton has also been relatively injury free.