The Royals and Tuggeranong Vikings coaches will go head to head in the John I Dent Cup grand final at Viking Park on Saturday, adding another chapter to a 22-year journey that started at the Canberra Kookaburras.

There will be no love lost when the pair square off for the first time in a grand final showdown after Scrivener returned to Canberra this year to take the Vikings' reins.

He has the job of trying to end Southwell and Royals' impressive two-year dominance, which included an undefeated premiership-winning season last year.

But the coaching pair share a bond that was set when Southwell was the Kookaburras second XV coach in 1996 and Scrivener was captain of his team.

"It's the camaraderie that started back then. It's just a good feeling, you enjoy a chat after the game and that's what rugby is about. But it just makes me feel old," Southwell laughed.

"Defensively [Scrivener] was one of the best centres around. Hard and strong and was the cornerstone of our team. He was very under-rated as a player."

Scrivener adds: "We've got teams now that have a fairly traditional rivalry, so our relationship doesn't come into it. We don't hate each other. But we won't give each other cuddles at half-time, either."

The coaching history adds extra spice to a south-side rivalry battle in the grand final, with Royals targeting back to back titles for the first time since 1990-91.

Royals and Tuggeranong have won the past seven grand finals between them, the Vikings winning five in a row before Royals ended their run in 2015.

Southwell has rebuild Royals this season after losing eight players from the side that won the premiership last year, calling on new blood to continue their dominance.

"We haven't spoken about [winning two in a row]. These guys have had to work harder this year to build these combinations again," Southwell said.

"To be honest it's probably been better than what I could have imagined, and that comes down to the leadership group. We didn't really miss a beat.

"It's been a huge step forward for us this year. We took confidence [out of winning the major semi-final], and then it was good to have the week off to rejuvenate."

Scrivener was thrown into the Vikings challenge relatively late when Tim Sampson moved to Perth to lead the Western Force, opening the door for one of the club's favourite sons to return home.

Tuggeranong will have a team in every grand final on Saturday.

"I've really enjoyed coming back in a coaching capacity. I had to get my head around that, but these guys are a terrific bunch and I've enjoyed it," Scrivener said.

"We've had a bumpy road this year. We've played some good games, and some stuff that we're not so proud of. But still good enough to be minor premiers. You want to play well in the big games, that's the challenge."

JOHN I DENT CUP GRAND FINAL

Saturday: Royals v Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park, 3.25pm.

LOWER GRADES

First division second grade: RMC v Tuggeranong Vikings at 9.35am (Field No. 2).

First division first grade: ADFA v Tuggeranong Vikings at 11.25am (Field No. 2).

Colts: Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites at 11.35am (Field No. 1).

Women's: Tuggeranong Viqueens v Uni-Norths Owls at 1.15pm (Field No. 2).

Second grade: Queanbeyan Whites v Tuggeranong Vikings at 1.25pm (Field No. 1).