Lance Hohaia insists St Helens are not shying away from recent Super League heartbreak as they seek to end a nine-year wait for the top prize.
But with Catalan Dragons stopping by for a semi-final showdown on Thursday, the Kiwi half-back knows the League Leader's Shield winners have their hands full.
After topping the pile this season, St Helens breezed into the last four two weeks ago with a thumping 41-0 victory over Challenge Cup finalists Castleford Tigers.
Next up is the Dragons, who reached this stage with nail-biting play-off wins at both Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants.
The French outfit will have to do it again when they visit Langtree Park but standing in their way is a determined Saints side, spurred on by five Grand Final defeats since they last lifted the trophy.
"We are well aware of the past five or six years and what has and what hasn't happened," said Hohaia, who joined St Helens from NZ Warriors in 2012.
"We are looking forward to hopefully being part of something special. We truly believe that we can win the race.
"It is definitely going to be a tough game this weekend. Catalan have got their tails up and they are a dangerous side. There is no reason why they can't do it again if they play well and we don't play to our best.
"I look at their team and I see a lot of really good players in there - I'm surprised they didn't finish higher than they did.
"Travelling abroad every other weekend is not easy and I think they have handled the season very well. They are going to come here full of confidence - it is up to us to play to our strengths.
"Having home advantage is great for us, we are very similar with our own surroundings and we have performed fairly well throughout the year at home.
"It is a great ground and our fans turn up every week and support us. The atmosphere against Castleford was awesome and it was definitely felt out on the field."
Former Manly Sea Eagles wing Michael Oldfield is quick to remind St Helens that they are in for a tough test.
"I know we didn't have the best start but I knew we would make the top eight and perform in the play-offs," said the 23-year-old, who is enjoying his first season with the Dragons.
"We have timed this to perfection. Nobody had us down to beat Leeds and to then go on and defeat Huddersfield is awesome. Confidence is so high at the moment amongst the boys.
"We seem to have shaken off the away form hoodoo and we're now ready to visit Langtree Park on Thursday and do the same."
Once that tie is settled, the Grand Final line-up will be completed on Friday night, when Wigan Warriors host Warrington Wolves.
And Warrington head coach Tony Smith is hoping to see former South Sydney prop Roy Asotasi repeat his display from last weekend's 30-14 triumph at Castleford.
"It's hard for overseas players. Everybody expects them to just come in and be terrific but it takes time for a lot of them," said Smith.
"I thought from his (Asotasi) first carry his late footwork there was awesome. He was as effective as he's been all season."
Thursday
St Helens v Catalan Dragons
Friday
Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves
Source: AFP
