If Maitland have any doubts just how hard it is to capture the NPL grand final and premiership double they need only ask their grand final opponents on Sunday.
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Edgeworth Eagles were the last team to achieve the rare honour. That was back in 2016 after also winning the double in 2015.
Their last two grand final campaigns ended in losses to Broadmeadow Magic.
But while the double is a big ask, Maitland captain Carl Thornton and his cousin and midfielder Nick Cowburn are confident they have the team to achieve it.
Former Newcastle Jets player Cowburn is in his first season with the Magpies after joining the club in July. Thornton and his brother Liam moved to Maitland in 2015 after the Magpies won promotion with a Northern League One double in 2014.
They believe the key to the Magpies' success is a tight-knit and super-competitive playing group.
"Everyone in the squad gets along, we're like best mates but at training it can get a bit feisty at stages," Thornton said.
"Bolchy (coach Mick Bolch) the last few weeks has had to cut sessions short because tempers flared in some of the game sessions at training.
"It just shows that everyone is wanting to win and that side of thing. No ill feelings.
"We're a pretty close knit group with a fair splash of white line fever and that helps game day."
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Cowburn has fitted in perfectly among his super-competitive teammates bringing along a stare that can unsettle all but the most stoic of opponents.
"Have you seen me play football, I've got to have something to intimidate them," Cowburn joked.
"It's part of who I am, I always try to play the game feisty.
"On grand final day it can get pretty frantic in that first half and you need to be up there for the challenge.
"If you are not there contest wise you can forget about winning the grand final.
"You've got to show up, you've got to be competitive and we'll let the ball doing the talking."
Thornton is a fan of his cousin's approach and input since arriving.
"He gets a bit feisty sometimes, but that's all part and parcel of the game isn't it," Thornton said.
"It's good to have boys with that sort of aggression and passion. He fires it up, he shows his passionate and wants to win and gives the other guys a lift."
Cowburn said he had loved his time back in the NPL with Maitland.
"One of the main reasons for coming back to Maitland was to play with Carl and Liam my cousins and a few boys I know up there at Maitland," he said.
"It's been fun since I've been back and we've had a lot of success which is really good. I can't wait to win the grand final."
Thornton said the Magpies had met the goals they had set at the start of the season, but wanted to complete their outstanding season with a win in the grand final.
"The goals of the start of the year were to make the FFA Cup final 32, to make the finals and obviously we've won the premiership which is brilliant and we've got one more to go on Sunday.
"If you can put yourself in the mix come finals time you are always a chance."
