There's a hint of de javu about this final - Behardien

Yes, there is a little hint of deja-vu about the 2016 CSA T20 Final.

It features the defending champions, the Multiply Titans and it is at SuperSport Park, the very venue where the Centurion team lifted the trophy last season with a seven-wicket victory over the Dolphins.

This time it is the Warriors who travel to SuperSport Park to try unseat the Titans as the kingpins in the shortest version of the game.

As fate would have it, the final has pitted the two form teams of the competition against one another for the title.

The Eastern Cape side brushed aside the Lions in the qualifying playoff on Tuesday by seven wickets, but are no doubt still stinging after Farhaan Behardien's 15-ball blitz in the five over shootout in East London last weekend which guaranteed the Titans their direct passage to the final.

"Sure, there's a sense of deja-vu," commented Behardien. "But this is a slightly different occasion."

"We are preparing as best we can and not taking anything lightly," he added.

Behardien also cautioned not to read too much into the Titans' home ground advantage, particularly in a winner-takes-all once-off occasion like a final.

"Sure, we don't have to travel, but we are at an advantage perhaps that we have played in a few more finals than the Warriors," Behardien pointed out.

"But that all counts for nothing on the day."

Behardien, nicknamed 'Fudgie' by his teammates and friends, has certainly hit a purple patch and is in superb batting nick heading into the final.

But, he says he still has to rely on the senior players around him to pick up the mantle if he happens to fail.

"I would gladly score a duck on Friday, but win the final. That's all that matters to me."

The transition between coaches has also gone relatively smoothly for the Titans following the resignation last season of Rob Walter and the subsequent appointment of former Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher as the new head coach.

Behardien points out that the amount of senior players in the squad makes it much easier for Boucher to lead from a strategy point of view, while his calm demeanor also filters down to the players.

The Titans experienced a slight stutter in mid-campaign after a dominant start and were forced to take stock and review their own performance levels, but have hit their straps again in the run-in to the final.

Behardien said some stern words were exchanged, which prompted a turnaround

But for now, says Behardien, the Titans will be focusing on what they do really well.

"We need to get a good start with the bat and not lose too many wickets up front, while countering the strong Warriors spin component," said the Titans allrounder.

"SuperSport Park offers different challenges in Highveld conditions - it's flat, it's hard and bouncy and the Warriors will need to adapt, but in the end, it's still about whoever handles the pressure situations better that will prevail," he concluded.