Cardinals coach Alan Carey hopes his batters are peaking at the right time as the club chases a second consecutive Champions Cup tomorrow.
The stage is set for an intriguing best-of-three finals series at Ellis Park.
Saints, with a potentially lethal batting order and the competition's best pitcher in Tim Howard, have set the pace all summer and possibly still go into the final day as the marginal favourites.
But Cardinals won the most recent clash between the sides, claiming the major semifinal 6-5, so can they have momentum.
''That definitely helped the confidence,'' Carey said yesterday.
''We know we can do it. It's just a matter of stringing it all together and being consistent.
''We're looking all right. We're a young side but they're a good wee bunch of players.''
Carey will look to Corey Parker, Glenn Forrester, Doug Hill, Crete Whaanga and Hoani Iva-Keen to find some runs.
''Our batters are starting to come right. Hopefully we're peaking at the right time and can show our best form on Saturday.''
Jacob Wedlock, the 16-year-old Otago Boys' High School pupil, will hope to continue his excellent form on the pitching mound, with back-up from Grant Phillips.
The big loss for Cardinals is talented all-rounder Steve Willis, who has headed to Perth to play baseball.
Saints' last success was in the 2008-09 season, when they won both the post-Christmas and overall titles.
They will be without star batter Michael Crowley, who is unavailable for the finals, while Travis McIntosh is in doubt with a knee injury.
But with Howard contributing on the mound and at the plate, and Lachlan Brensell and various O'Neill boys chipping in, Saints can still be dangerous.
''If everyone does their job, we should be able to give them a good run for their money,'' Howard said.
''On the day, they could be the better team than us. But if we do the basics right, we'll do OK.''
Dunedin softball
Premier finals
Who: Cardinals v Saints.
Where: Ellis Park, Dunedin.
When: Tomorrow, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and (if necessary) 4.30pm.
