A three-time runner-up, O'Brien is determined to reverse his horror finals luck and insists the Vikings have the strikepower to end the Queanbeyan Whites' two-year stranglehold on the title when the teams clash in the season decider at Viking Park on Saturday.

O'Brien has played in three losing first XV grand finals since joining the Vikings in 2001. And when he wasn't in a losing team, being dropped and injury crippled his bids to be a part of the Vikings' 2004 and 2006 premiership sides.

But this time he's fit, he's not going to get dropped and he's intent on lifting the John I Dent Cup.''They're all special and you want to do as well as you can in each and every one of them,'' O'Brien said.''I broke my elbow halfway through the year [in 2006] and I got about 20 minutes off the bench, so that was pleasant.

''You wonder [if you're going to get back to a grand final], especially after we didn't perform in 2007 and 2008.''''But we're turning the corner and hopefully we'll go well this weekend.''The Vikings lost to Queanbeyan in both their matches this season.But O'Brien was confident his side had found its best form and was ready to topple the two-time defending premier.

Tuggeranong coach Glen Christini led the Whites to back-to-back titles in 2007 and last year before joining the Vikings at the start of the season.While the Whites have set their sights on collecting a grand final hat-trick, Christini wants a three-peat of his own.

However, he denies the opportunity to beat his former club will add extra feeling to the match.''None of that really comes into it I'm with the Vikings now and we're trying to achieve something,'' Christini said.

''I know the players well, I've got some mates there ... but really there's very little there in terms of secrets so I don't think [being a former Queanbeyan coach] will be a factor.''Despite Christini's departure, the Whites booked their place in the grand final by beating minor premiers Royals in the major semi-final two weeks ago.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times.