The 24-year old was an instrumental figure in Robb College's drought-breaking New England title success last season, the students lifting the Sawers Shield for the first time since 2000.

For the Rams, the wait has been even longer. They haven't held the symbol of Central North supremacy - the Heath Shield - since 1997.

Saturday will be their fourth attempt since then, and their second attempt at home. Bucknell can't wait.

"It will be pretty exciting seeing Walcha with a grand final here," he said.

The Inverell native has been a handy pick-up for the Rams, ably filling in Pat Keen's shoes after the Country centre moved to Sydney to ply his trade there.

"I came down here for a bit more experience - I'm working on a property south of town here," Bucknell said.

Named the player of the New England finals series last year, Bucknell has carried that form with him to the Rams.

In his first game he was named players' player and picked up the three points, and has continued to impress ever since.

"I've been pretty happy with his form this year," Rams co-coach Barry Hoy said.

"He's pretty reliable in defence and pretty handy in attack."

Bucknell admits he "got lucky" with the Rams, and not just in regards to being part of what is widely-regarded as the best backline in the competition.

"[I'm] lucky the place where I took a job [has] got a good footy side, I suppose, and a good group of fellas, too, and not just the footy side [of it]."

Slotting into what was a pretty well-established backline, Bucknell felt it probably took a little while to bed down the combinations.

"I felt like we like didn't gel for a while, especially my position, but it's come together a bit at the end there," he said.