THE last time Edgeworth duo Troy Halpin and Mark Wilson played finals football together they were on opposing national league sides.
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Wilson's Newcastle United were knocked out in the National Soccer League preliminary final by Halpin's Olympic Sharks in 2002.
This time the boys will be lining up together and Halpin is just happy to be involved.
The ex-Socceroo was cleared to play in the Northern NSW State League grand final on Sunday against minor premiers Weston after missing Edgeworth's finals series to suspension.
"I've played one-and-a-half games out of the last seven," he said. "Weston was the team we'd like to play in the grand final seeing they pipped us for the premiership."
Halpin started playing first grade at age 16 for Newcastle Australs and has spent 20 years in the game including eight years with Perth, Sydney and overseas clubs.
"We were always too young to make sides and have to bide our time and all of a sudden you're too old," he said.
"That middle bit just flew."
Haplin has struggled with an ankle injury for the past four years but was given a new lease of life by uncle and Newcastle Knights doctor Neil Halpin.
"I went and saw my uncle and he gave me some blood injections and I've had my best season since the national league finished," he said.
Wilson will be chasing his first grand final win since triumphing with Azzurri over Weston in 1996.
"Weston are a good side, well drilled and disciplined so we'll have to be at our best on Sunday," Wilson said.
Wilson made his first-grade debut for Weston.
"To return to the club I started with and win a grand final would be the icing on the cake," he said.
"I'm excited, if my legs can hold that is."
Wilson tore his Achilles tendon last year and has recently struggled with a hamstring injury.
"Jabba [Robert Jovanovski] and Gary [Wilson] gave me the opportunity to take it slow and ease back into it. They're a big part of why we're doing so well and we'll be even stronger next year. There are some great young boys coming through like Stephen Krause and Mat Wilks."
Wilson and Halpin's relationship was built on mutual respect.
Halpin said Wilson was the "kind of guy you want to play with" that had the respect of most players around the country. Wilson considers Halpin the "best player in the league".
