The last thing Tegan Dray wants is to be the centre of attention on Saturday in the Orange Netball Association Toyota Cup grand final.
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However, she's going to struggle to escape the limelight.
She'll literally be centre stage for Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical as they take on the team she coaches - yes, coaches - in Orange High School.
"The way we all understand the situation is I'm a part of both teams, and if I take the court or don't take the court I'm still a part of both teams," Dray said.
"Both teams should know what they need to do and when they need to do it without me telling them what to do.
"Saturday will be very exciting and very conflicting for a lot of reasons but I'm just excited they're here."
To say she's conflicted about the weekend is an understatement - Dray has been at the helm of Hornets sides for years, while she lined up in the first of 12 titles in a row for Orange City in 2008 against a Lynne Middleton-coached students side.
It's Tegan Dray weekend really, without putting too much pressure on her.
- Orange City's Cindy Gilchrist
"Yes but I'm in both teams, and I don't really want the narrative to be about me, because I feel the girls have worked really hard," she said.
"If I'm the opposition or the coach I'm still going to be going for them anyway and I really just want them to play to the best they can."
She's stoked to see her side - which has come along in leaps and bounds in 2020 - make the grand final, and couldn't be more proud of her troops for breaking a 12-year drought between appearances in the decider.
"It's something I've wanted for a long time," Dray said.
"For everyone 2020's been a really tough year for everyone, but school students in particular have missed out on such a lot so it's really exciting for these girls who have missed out on a lot of school-based netball and sporting opportunities.
"That's the main thing I want, to pull myself out of it and not make it about me because I'm just excited they're here and this is happening."
The students are still unsure how to feel about lining up against their coach, and while they're unlikely to have Dray storm over to their half-time huddle and give them a spray, Hornets skipper Tabua Tuinakauvadra said she was unlikely to try and target the coach.
"It's going to be good fun ... she's also very scary," Tuinakauvadra said.
"She's torn between the two sides but is definitely giving us the support we need going into the weekend."
On the other side of the ledger, City coach Cindy Gilchrist said despite conflicted loyalties, she could "200 per cent" trust her centre.
"It's a tough week for her, but it's a week she should be celebrated because she's just a phenomenal force both as a coach and as a player," Gilchrist said.
"It's Tegan Dray weekend really, without putting too much pressure on her.
"She's part of us. I think this is just the most amazing opportunity for them and Tegan should be congratulated and celebrated."
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