Stingrays coach Steve Marsh.
NSW WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE
The Illawarra Stingrays are carrying lots of confidence into Sunday's NSW Women's Premier League grand final against Macarthur.
Despite the Rams dominating much of the season and claiming minor premiership status, the Stingrays hold an upper hand.
When the sides met two weeks ago in the semi-final, Illawarra managed a gritty 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory.
Stingrays coach Steve Marsh said the win gave his side a slight mental edge.
"It probably suits us in one sense - we have a good idea of how Macarthur play, having only played them two weeks ago," Marsh said.
Three-time defending champions Illawarra only learned of their grand final opponents on Sunday after Macarthur cruised to a 2-0 preliminary final win over a pedestrian NWS Koalas.
A grand final berth was seemingly out of reach for the hot and cold Stingrays midway through the season.
But the side, in its first year under Marsh, pulled it together and now finds itself in a position to seal a fourth-consecutive crown.
Marsh said the biggest threat against his side was Macarthur's strong midfield.
"If you allow them time and space to apply that, then they'll literally carve you up," he said.
"I don't expect this weekend to be any different."