https://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/sport/Tigers-at-fullstrength-for-club39s.3254277.jp
Head coach Terry Matterson has an injury-free 20-man squad at his disposal for arguably the biggest game in Castleford's 81-year history.
As well as a £1m-plus pay-day from television money and increased sponsorship, there is increasing speculation that the twelve clubs in next year's elite competition will be at the front of the queue when Super League licences are handed out for 2009.
And the importance of Sunday's promotion showdown at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium is not lost on head coach Matterson and his players.
"It's different circumstances, but it's got to be up there with last year's game at Wakefield. The stakes are just as high," said the Cas boss. "I think it's bigger than the NRL Grand Final and the Super League Grand Final - those guys lose they've had a success but they've got contracts and they're playing again next year. This is massive.
"Awen Guttenbeil touched on it. He's played an NRL Grand Final but says this is a bigger game than that - you've got to take notice when you hear comments like that.
"It was always going to be about the last game. No-one's going to care about what happened before. People might say we'd had a successful season but I'd say we need to win on Sunday."
Matterson insists this year's Grand Final preparations are in stark contrast the build-up to last year's relegation decider.
"Obviously, not everything's gone to plan all season but having a couple of hiccups hasn't hurt us and there's no way we're going to be complacent this week. Compared with last year, our team is so much healthier and we've had a perfect preparation for the game.
"It's a long time since we played but we got a heap of work in them and I'm comfortable where we're at."
Matterson has named a 20-strong squad for Sunday's game. It is the 17 who beat Widnes last time out - Stuart Donlan, Michael Wainwright, Kirk Dixon, Michael Shenton, Danny Williams, Anthony Thackeray, Danny Brough; Liam Higgins, Andy Henderson, Ryan Clayton, Awen Guttenbeil, Joe Westerman, Peter Lupton, Ryan McGoldrick, Chris Charles, Ryan Boyle and Mark Leafa - plus Dwayne Barker, Tere Glassie and Craig Huby.
The Tigers are marginal favourites to bounce back once more at the first attempt but honours are even in their head-to-head clashes with Widnes this season and assistant coach Awen Guttenbeil admits the whole season could come down to which team best holds their nerve.
"If you sit down and think what's on the line - guys' careers and what it means to the club - it's a huge responsibility but you can't let that affect your preparation and your performance," said the former New Zealand international who will be playing in the second row on Sunday.
"It's about playing the game not the occasion, we've spoken about that. As a team this is the biggest stage we're going to get to play on this year and it's about performing for the 80 minutes that counts."
Despite being the odds-on favourites, Matterson is seeking an improved performance after identifying frailties against Widnes last Thursday.
"There are areas we need to work on. We coughed up a heap of cheap ball and made a lot of one-on-one mistakes - that made it difficult for us, especially in the first half.
Cheap errors
"When we control field position we control the game and our kicking game was really good for the majority. But cheap errors on play one and play two were a concern. The ferocity of the defence could have been a factor but if you carry the ball, it's also your job to come up with it.
"We did take our chances better than they did but it's all to be done again and next time it's the big one. Our form will count for something and confidence is a big thing - even though that can turn round for both sides - but we've worked hard to get to this stage and now it's the best man wins.
"Watching the Super League games at the weekend showed how important playing for 80 minutes is. Games will never be won by the 50 or 60-minute mark and even with ten minutes to go against Widnes on Thursday, when we were leading by 18, I didn't feel safe. You've got to be more than three scores ahead these days.
"I was really pleased we didn't let a cheap try in at the end when we gave up a heap of cheap ball.
"Guttenbeil was fantastic, among a host of them, but he's not our only experienced guy. I thought Chris Charles steadied us and Stuart Donlan did a really good job at the back. And Michael Shenton's defence was really good for us."
Castleford have been linked with players both home and abroad as they look to build for 2008. The club is understood to have sounded out Salford pack duo Michael Korkidas and Mark Edmondson, Brisbane's Brad Thorn and Canterbury pair Brent Sherwin and Adam Perry.
