THEY both wear No. 8, and for Stephen Hoiles and Tim Davidson, representative honours have slipped through their grasp.

Hoiles, captain of Randwick, has never shied away from his disappointment of missing out on the Wallabies' Tri Nations campaign and hopes he can earn his spot back in the national team for the end of season tour to Europe.

Davidson, the Sydney University skipper, lost his spot in the Waratahs last year and would love to get back into the team should new coach Chris Hickey see a place for him in the next era of NSW rugby.

But both forwards swear that their regrets and representative ambitions have been placed well back in their memory banks as the teams prepare for the Shute Shield grand final at Concord Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The match promises to be the best of the season, and both sides will welcome the return of several Wallabies.

The biggest comeback will be that of Phil Waugh to the University starting side at No.7 to replace Jono Jenkins, who was stretchered off in last Saturday's preliminary final win against Eastern Suburbs with a neck injury.

"A lot of people think it is just another game of footy, club rugby, you are a professional, you go back to your job and keep training and getting paid," Hoiles said.

"But it is these things you play for and what you sit back on in years to come with fond memories. It is a community game.

"I grew up [in Randwick]. My father played there. It is a big part of who I am. My life has been down there."

The Brumbies back rower, who last played for Australia in the starting side in the second Test against France in July, would rate a grand final win as the highlight of the year.

"It means a hell of a lot to all of us," Hoiles said of the prospect of finally getting his hands on the Shute Shield after the disappointment of 2006 when Sydney University - winners for the past three years - beat the Galloping Greens.

Of his last chance to impress Wallabies coach Robbie Deans before the touring squad is named on Tuesday, Hoiles said it would be nice to impress the selectors, "but I am just desperate to win a grand final".

Davidson is equally as focused on Saturday's final rather than a possible comeback to the Waratahs.

"I haven't thought too much about it. I just have to play consistent football," he said. "And I think I have achieved that this year. The biggest thing from my end is that I hope my team is happy … that is all that matters.

"If something else comes along, that is great, but after last year and the disappointment of not getting selected [for NSW] the pressure came off to go looking for it. It hasn't been in my sights as the number one objective … I just thought if I can player regularly and consistently it may come back again. I am not holding my breath."

If the Waratahs don't come back knocking for Davidson, who is close to finishing his master's degree in commerce at the same university he has led since 2005 on the field, he has not dispelled looking for a playing contract overseas after this season.

"I finish my degree this semester, so now I can be free. There is a clean cut there," Davidson said.

"Once that is over, there are a lot of opportunities. I will never say never. At my age, 26, it would be the perfect year to go."