The two clubs meet in the big dance for the first time since 2019, with speculation mostly centring around Murray Bombers co-coach Andrew Walker.
The ex-Blue has not taken his place in the side since round 13 after nursing a calf injury, and has played just five games for the year.
Walker, key defender Cameron Valentine, leading goal-kicker Will Monahan, and ruckman Kane Morris are all eyeing a return to grand final day.
Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox said they would take their place if all four were fit.
Based on a gruelling Tuesday night training session at Victoria Park, the question of who comes into the grand final side looks to have been answered.
“As long as all four are fit, they’ll play. I’d expect all of them to play,” Maddox said.
“They’ll play if they’re fit. They just need to get through Thursday’s training. They all trained on the weekend just gone and on Tuesday.
“Tuesday night was a pretty gruelling hour-and-20-minute session, and they all got through. I would assume they’ll get through tonight (Thursday), we’ll pick a side, and we’ll go from there.”
But on the flip side of welcoming the premiership quartet back for the grand final, it’s also a time of year when a coach has to inform an unlucky few that they’ve been omitted.
It’s a job made more difficult given the robust nature of its 17-point semi-final win over Kyabram two weeks ago and the evenness of the Murray Bombers team in 2023.
But Maddox is confident the selected 22 players can achieve the ultimate goal again.
“It’s tough for us, but it’s a lot tougher for the guys we leave out because you’re splitting hairs over six different players,” he said.
“It could come down to match-ups, it could come down to weather, could come down to if we go in with an extra tall or extra runner.
“We had a really good chat around that Tuesday, and hopefully, by end of training Thursday, we have it sorted.
“Whatever 22 we put out there, we’re confident they can get the job done.”
Maddox, Walker, and Sam Reid form the co-coaching panel this season in a unique three-man set-up.
Maddox said as long as the trio can reach a common consensus, they will find the correct set-up for the decider.
“Obviously, with three coaches, it’s a bit more difficult,” he said.
“To tell you the truth, it gives you three different opinions about what the side could look like.
“We’ve got to get ourselves on one page, we’re entrusted to do a job, and we’ve got to come up with the side that we think is best to win the grand final.”
Kyabram aren’t without their selection headaches, with skipper Jason Morgan and star defender Lachlan Smith under a cloud.
Echuca and Kyabram will face off from 2.40pm this Sunday, September 24, at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.
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