Kane Douglas and Rob Horne are 80 minutes away from an historic victory when NSW Waratahs tackle Canterbury Crusaders in the Super 15 final this Saturday at ANZ Stadium.
Douglas, 25, and Robert Horne, 24, are proud Southern Districts Rugby Union Club [Rebels] players.
Second-rower Douglas and winger Horne have enjoyed top seasons in the Super 15 competition.
The Waratahs were denied a Super 15 final victory — against their opponents, Crusaders — in 2005 and 2008.
Douglas will be joining Dublin club Leinster later this year for the next three seasons.
‘‘That was a pretty big decision to make the move to Ireland,’’ Douglas said.
‘‘It took me a lot of time to make that decision but it was good for my career.’’
Douglas has not ruled out the dream of playing again for the Waratahs after his Irish stint is over.
He will be 28 in three years and, barring serious injury, will have plenty of good football ahead of him.
Douglas said winning the Super 15 title would be something special.
‘‘The team has trained and prepared well this week,’’ he said.
Douglas, born in Yamba on the NSW north coast, moved to Sutherland Shire when he was 17.
‘‘My parents were living in the shire and I moved to Sydney to live with my older brother who was already down here, '' Douglas said.
Kane and his brother, Jake, were in the Southern Districts team in the second row together a few weeks ago.
‘‘That was pretty good to play alongside him,’’ Kane said.
He will miss the elimination final on Sunday between Southern Districts and Eastwood.