Avonnova might be considered an outsider for Sunday's Inter Dominion Grand Final (3009 metres), but trainer Ian Gurney couldn't be happier with the eight-year-old's lead-up to the $750,000 Group 1 at Menangle.

Listed as a $51 fixed odds hope with TAB Sportsbet, Avonnova qualified for the biggest race in Australian harness racing with a gutsy runners-up finish in an Albion Park heat behind Majestic Mach.

"I thought he was massive. It was probably one of his best runs," Gurney said of the performance.

"It was the quickest lead time at Albion Park in history then he sat in the chair and only got beaten a head. It was a very good run."

The second placing came on the back of four straight wins between Albion Park and Menangle, including a triumph in the Group 3 Kevin Robinson Cup.

But for Gurney to taste glory again he will have to overcome red-hot $1.60 favourite and defending champion Beautide.

Gurney conceded if the James Rattray superstar brought his A-game again this weekend, after going within a whisker of the Menangle 2400-metres track record in the heats, the rest of the field would be running for second.

"It should be a pretty good race. Take Beautide out and it is pretty even," Gurney said.

"If he has a bad night - he is coming back from his last run - take that away, he was going ordinary but he turned that around."

Avonnova will jump from the second line after drawing gate 12 last Sunday.

"He is good and seems ready to go. He is seasoned and has had some nice hard racing at this level, so he should be right," he said.

"He will run a good race. I am probably happy to run top four.

"I will probably be four [back] on the fence and just sit there. It will be the first time I have driven him with the sit, so I am looking forward to it."

The final will jump at 3.42pm on Sunday in front of what should be a packed Menangle Paceway.

The Inter Dominion is one of seven Group 1 races on grand final day, with the opening event on the card from 12.30pm.