PAKENHAM players have been waiting for this weekend for almost 12 months and it’s Cranbourne that will feel the full force of the Lions’ pent-up wrath after last year’s embarrassing finals campaign at the Edwin Flack Reserve.

This Sunday at the same venue in an important qualifying final, the Lions have the chance to exorcise their finals demons and set up a genuine tilt at the 2009 premiership.

However a loss will confirm Lions’ supporters worst fears that this talented group has a mental flaw when it comes to the business end of the season and may never achieve the glory they believe awaits them.

Everything is on the line for Pakenham despite the double chance.

Coach Michael Holland is well aware of that and didn’t back away from discussing the challenge his players face.

“All we’re concentrating on is one final,” he said.

“The expectation was very high last year. We went through undefeated and everyone around just expected to play in the grand final. I think the players fell into that thinking too.

“That’s not to say there’s no pressure this year, there still is, but the players know now that they’re not invincible and we have to play our best football to beat any side.

“Cranbourne is a good side on the up and we will have to be on our game to beat them.”

The Lions hope to welcome back from injury key playmakers Dan O’Loughlin and John Atwell and will go into the game with a full list to choose from. Cranbourne may lose Robert Beadel, but will also be strengthened by the inclusion of speedster Ray George and big man Adam Wright, so there will be no injury excuses for either.

Eagles’ mentor Doug Koop was also direct when assessing his side’s hopes.

“It doesn’t matter where we play them, we have to win and that’s the bottom line,” he said.

“It’s really about producing your best on the day. They’ve beaten us easily the last three times we’ve played and it’s a massive challenge for us because Pakenham is a very good team.

“You don’t wait for things to happen in finals football you have to make them happen.”

The key to Cranbourne’s chances will be the ability of goalkickers Marc Holt, Matt Fletcher and Brad Coller to keep the scoreboard kicking over.

When Cranbourne plays to its game plan it is a very good, uncompromising team. When it does not, it is not good enough man-for-man to beat the top two sides, it’s that simple.

Pakenham has a deeper talent pool and for Cranbourne to win the game has to be played on its terms.

The Lions’ demons will be conquered this weekend, but it will be no cakewalk.