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Head coach Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds

"I just think we've got to play well - we've got to play our game on the big stage. We've just got to handle the walk out as much as anything and focus on what we have to do.

"I supported the club as a young fellow and it makes me incredibly proud to walk out there as head coach. It means a massive amount to me."

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Image source, Getty Images

Much has been made of the absence of Castleford full-back Zak Hardaker from today's Grand Final. Leeds' full-back this evening, Jack Walker, has a story that needs telling too.

The teenager has had an impressive debut season but rejected a contract offer from the Rhinos earlier in the campaign, on the basis that he did not think he would be guaranteed a spot in his favoured full-back position.

Head coach Brian McDermott was almost resigned to losing him but, a short time later, a new deal was signed and now Walker finds himself on one of the sport's biggest stages - playing in front of 73,000 people at a sold-out Old Trafford.

Leeds Rhinos actually got off to a decent start in Super League this season, a narrow loss against St Helens and their early thrashing by the Tigers aside.

The visit of champions Wigan threatened to be a dampener to the optimism but Leeds were excellent in quelling the Warriors and taking the points. Kallum Watkins crossed on his 200th appearance, showing the Rhinos' threat.

Leeds travelled to Salford with an identical record in terms of games, wins and defeats, but showed the gulf in terms of class with a thumping 50-24 win at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Nine tries put the Rhinos into second place, and suggested Brian McDermott's side would be a genuine threat in the play-offs.

It must have been a good game, as I clearly lost count of the scoring...

Leeds' thoughts might have been a million miles away from a Grand Final, after their shell-shocked players were well-beaten by Wakefield in the Super 8s.

The Rhinos pulled level at 6-6 apiece in the first-half but then conceded 32 points without reply as Trinity ran riot. It was clearly the kick up the backside they needed, as they lost just once more - against Castleford - between that game and now.

The final game at Headingley was always going to be an emotional one for Leeds, with the south stand reduced to rubble and the north stand also staging its final game.

Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow came out to a guard of honour on their final home appearances for the Rhinos, and a see-sawing game of drama against Challenge Cup winners Hull FC saw Leeds squeak through by two points and reach a record-equalling 10th Grand Final.

Although Castleford had been tipped for success in pre-season, their 66-10 round three demolition of Leeds was an eye-opener to any doubters of their credentials.

Luke Gale steered the Tigers around the park on the back of a dominant pack, and wingers Greg Eden and Greg Minikin helped themselves to hat-tricks among the 12 tries.

When the Tigers travelled to Wigan top of the table after seven games, only Salford had taken points from them.

The reigning champions had only lost once themselves and looked a fearsome prospect, but a disciplined, physical and skillful performance from the Tigers saw them despatch the Warriors comfortably.

Castleford's pursuit of a treble was ended by Hull FC in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, despite a brave fightback.

The Airlie Birds made a flying start and had enough to cling on. It was a useful lesson for the Tigers in terms of managing knock-out football, and they had learned significantly enough by the time they faced St Helens in the play-off semi-finals to overcome a late set-back and win.

If Castleford's League Leaders' Shield success was cause for celebration, imagine just how big the party will be if they win this evening?

The pressure was on the Tigers on home turf against rivals Wakefield who had plenty to play for themselves, but they more than coped, seeing off Trinity to pick up the silverware.

Paul Anderson
Assistant England coach and former Huddersfield Giants head coach on BBC Leeds

Image source, Rex Features

The Zak Hardaker situation will have been a shock to the Castleford players, but I'm very confident they'll deal with it as they have a good squad.

Daryl Powell will be straight down the line with them, but one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity. I coached Greg Eden at Huddersfield and he can play full-back - he likes open spaces and there will be plenty of them today.

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Rhinos veterans Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire will be hoping for a fairytale ending to their time at Leeds tonight.

McGuire will join newly-promoted Hull KR next season while Burrow is making the move into coaching.

They have made 878 Leeds appearances and scored 2110 points between them.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to get here and we’ve got an opportunity to finish our Leeds careers in the best way possible,” McGuire told BBC Radio 5 Live.

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Rugby league players are renowned for being pretty tough, but Luke Gale took that badge of honour to another level.

The England half-back not only made his recovery from appendix surgery to return to the side for the play-off semi-final against St Helens, but scored a try, kicked a penalty to level up with a couple of minutes to go and dropped a one-pointer to win it.

Phew, breathless stuff. He then picked up the Man of Steel award in midweek for his overall 2017 form to put the icing on the cake. All he needs now is the Grand Final cherry on top.

"It has been an emotional rollercoaster from thinking the season was over to playing in the Grand Final on Saturday," Gale told BBC Radio 5 live.

"It is pretty amazing really and a rollercoaster probably sums it up."

Interesting point made by Phil. One thing I think you can guarantee is that it won't stop Castleford playing. They'll chuck the pill about, no doubt.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Image source, PA

It's Manchester, it's October and - shock - it's raining.

Could the greasy conditions compromise Castleford's expansive style? That will be a slight concern for the thousands of Tigers supporters who are preparing to watch their side in a Grand Final for the first time.

It will be interesting to see how Cas half-backs Ben Roberts and Man of Steel Luke Gale approach the opening few sets, and whether they will employ their boot a bit more in the early stages.

Castleford have won the toss, but Leeds Rhinos will kick-off first, attacking the Stretford End of the ground where the Tigers fans are amassed.

Image source, Getty Images

The sight of a Grand Final without a swathe of blue and amber across one half of Old Trafford doesn't quite feel right, they've won seven of nine previous visits before today.

Whether it's 2004 against Bradford and the emergence of Danny McGuire, the numerous skirmishes with St Helens or the historic treble of 2015 against Wigan, Leeds have made plenty of headlines at the home of Manchester United.

It's amusing that Leeds United fan McGuire has such an affinity for his big rivals' stadium, although he has equally fond memories of Jermaine Beckford's goal there for the Yorkshiremen in the FA Cup.

"That was a good day, there were about 5,000 Leeds fans there that day," McGuire told BBC Radio Leeds.

"However, there will be about 30,000, maybe 40,000 Leeds fans there on Saturday so I'm sure the rugby league night will eclipse that."

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Castleford have been in championship deciders before - notably when the original 'Classy Cas' were beaten by Leeds in the 1969 season - and even to Old Trafford when they lost the old Premiership final to Wigan in 1994.

They have already ticked off one long-term ambition, with the 91-year wait for a first top table finish ended with the League Leaders' Shield.

However, this is their first appearance in the Grand Final, since its inception in 1998. Their coach Daryl Powell played in the inaugural game between Wigan and Leeds, as a Rhinos player. Today he plots against them for the Tigers.

It's only four years since Castleford were almost extinct, but the combination of Steve Gill as CEO and the late Jack Fulton's investment dragged them out of trouble. Look where they are now.

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What a huge boost Leeds have had this week, with the fitness of Stevie Ward being confirmed by specialists after dislocating a shoulder against Hull in the semi-final.

Ward has been one of the stand-out players for the Rhinos in 2017, playing across the back-row and even in the centres.

The 23-year-old can do his England hopes no harm with a big performance here today.

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Castleford's preparations were hampered by the much publicised omission of full-back Zak Hardaker for a breach of "club rules".

It's not just a blow for the Tigers in terms of attack, but in terms of the organisation and team spirit.

I spoke with prop Grant Millington at the Dream Team announcement and he was saying just how important Hardaker is defensively, putting people in the right place in the line and geeing the team up.

Greg Eden fills in. Jy Hitchcox has been an able deputy but I might have plumped for the experience of Joel Monaghan. Daryl Powell knows what he is doing anyway.

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No changes from the Hull semi-final for Leeds Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott, which means Stevie Ward plays despite dislocating his shoulder in that game. What a recovery.

Jack Walker is thus given the nod ahead of Ashton Golding. Massive for the 18-year-old Outlon Raiders academy player who wasn't even born when Leeds reached the first Grand Final in 1998!

Leeds Rhinos: Walker; Briscoe, Watkins, Sutcliffe, Hall; Moon, McGuire; Garbutt, Parcell, Singleton, Jones-Buchanan, Ward, Cuthbertson.

Replacements: Ablett, Burrow, Ferres, Mullally.

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The loss of Zak Hardaker to the Tigers after his breach of club rules means a reshuffle in the backline, as Greg Eden moves to full-back and Jy Hitchcox comes onto the wing.

Oliver Holmes replaces Gadwin Springer, in the only other change to the 19-man squad.

Castleford Tigers: Eden; Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Hitchcox; Roberts, Gale; Massey, McShane, Sene-Lefao, Holmes, McMeeken, Milner.

Replacements: Millington, Moors, Cook, Foster.

First, let's have a look at the two 17-man squads. Who will be charged with clinching silverware?

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Where do you start?

It's the Super League decider, it's a West Yorkshire derby, it's first versus second, it's the big city slickers against the pit-town grafters.

The storylines are strewn like shards from a smashed glass, so let's have a look at a few of the pertinent themes.

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Welcome to the big one, where Old Trafford rocks to 73,000 rugby league fans and 34 pumped-up powerhouses go head to head for 80 minutes to secure the Super League trophy.

The Grand Final promises to truly live up to its name in 2017, with stand-out side Castleford Tigers against grizzled showpiece veterans Leeds Rhinos.

Black and Amber takes on Blue and Amber, but who will take the gold? Stay right here to find out.