Croker said the best birthday present would be a Canberra win over Penrith.

''I've had a few grand finals in junior days on the day, or a day after or before my birthday and it has been pretty lucky so hopefully it will be again,'' he said.

The youngest member of the side isn't without finals experience in a lime green jersey though, as he played in the Raiders Toyota Cup winning side in 2008. Not that the two compare in the young centre's mind.

''I can't wait,'' he said. ''It will be different [from the Toyota Cup grand final]. Maybe a bit closer to the game I could tell you, it's difficult to know right now.''

Croker had a big hand in the 2008 grand final triumph, with himself and Michael Picker combining with a chip over the top to set up the final try in the golden point win.

Picker and Croker had put their heads together only weeks before to come up with the now famous 'G-town' move. Croker might just sense a little bit of deja vu too, with Michael's older brother Joe lining up in the second row for the clash. But he feels this game will play out differently.

''Maybe if Mick was there, but Joey just loves all the tough stuff.''

'He gets in and makes 30 tackles a match and gets battered about which makes it so much easier for the guys outside.''

Picker will enter the match with a little more NRL finals experience than Croker, after he played in the Raiders side that lost to the Cronulla Sharks in 2008.

The 22-year-old said tomorrow would be an entirely different prospect than two years ago.

''We're the type of side that works well with confidence,'' Picker said.

''Training has been pretty animated and we're all buzzing.'' As for any special connection he and Croker might have, Picker said it was mostly hearsay.

''Everyone says that we've got that connection but I don't think we ever played together before the Raiders,'' Picker said.