Jason Sangha's "rollercoaster" season has one more ride remaining and the Novocastrian wants to make the most of his recent century during a second Sheffield Shield final appearance.
The 21-year-old is set to line-up for NSW against Queensland at Allan Border Field from Thursday with the Blues trying to defend cricket's prestigious interstate title.
It comes just a few days after Sangha helped NSW defeat Western Australia to claim the One-Day Cup crown, less than a fortnight since notching up his third first-class ton and following a large part of the season spent on the sidelines as part of various COVID "bubbles and hubs".
However, having earned a recall late in the piece and making the most of it with a three-figure score against the same opponents in the last round, Sangha feels a timely confidence boost ahead of the five-day showdown despite being dismissed cheaply in Sunday's 50-over fixture.
"Knowing you're playing against the same side again works both ways," he said.
"They will know how to bowl to me a bit better this time around and they will have their plans.
"But for me it's just nice to have that confidence I'm still capable at this level.
"Cricket's one of those games where you're only as good as your last innings and my last out was for three in a grand final [One-Day Cup].
"It's got a funny way of keeping you humble when you think you're getting ahead of yourself."
Sangha said NSW were buoyed by the limited-overs victory, but have kept focused on the longer format.
"Everybody still has eyes on the prize in the big dance," he said.
"Obviously the One-Day Cup was really nice and it's always good to win finals, but I know how much the Shield means to the lads and it would be the ideal way to end the season."
The Blues have three current Test players in their squad.
Australian bowling trio Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon bolster the NSW XI, which is missing Steve Smith and David Warner with Indian Premier League commitments.
The visitors need to win the match, one day longer than regular-season fixtures, in order to hold aloft the trophy while the top-ranked Bulls only require a draw.
"It [five days] probably suits us because we can force a result," Sangha said.
"We need to win because a draw won't get us the Shield. It's nice having Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon back in our squad because we've got Test cricketers who know how to play five-day games, especially from a bowling perspective."
Sangha, who played juniors and seniors at Wallsend, said raising the bat in Wollongong on April 4 was "a lot of relief".
"It's been a rollercoaster 18 months and I read somewhere that it was my first Shield hundred in two years which really puts into perspective how crazy it's been," he said.
"I've been in and out of the side due to a number of things from balance to Aussie guys coming back in. It's always pretty tough when you've got such a strong team like NSW.
"I owed it to myself a little bit for just hanging in there and staying in it.
"Not only that but the belief and support I've had from coaching staff and players ... but it's nice to be up there again and now a Shield final on Thursday so I'm pretty keen."
Sangha lost his maiden Shield final to Victoria in 2018-19.
There was no decider played last summer because of coronavirus but NSW were awarded the silverware as competition leaders.
The late, great Robert "Dutchy" Holland (NSW, 1984-85) and Adam Maher (Tasmania, 2010-11) are the only Novocastrians to have won Shield finals.
Michael Hogan lost the 2013-14 showdown with Western Australia.
