They have been rugby rivals on the international stage for a decade - now Australia's Bernard Foley and Kiwi Richie Mo'unga are fighting for top honours in Japan.
The flyhalf duo featured prominently on a bumper weekend of League One action that saw two former Wallaby coaches ousted from the competition.
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Foley slotted two conversions and a penalty goal as Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay edged out the Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights 28-24 in Sunday's second semi-final.
The Spears held their nerve after their opponents - featuring Wallabies ace Marika Koroibete - threatened to run down a 15-point deficit when they closed to 25-24 midway through the second half.
But Foley's side wouldn't be denied, holding out for a four-point win and booking their grand final berth where they'll bid for their second League One title, following their 2022/2023 victory over the Wild Knights two seasons ago.
Meanwhile Mo'unga produced a masterful 11-point display on Saturday - including two 40/20 kicks and five-from-five from the tee - as his Brave Lupus overran Dave Rennie's Kobe in a crushing 31-3 victory.
Rennie guided Kobe to the Steelers' first semi-final since 2018 and had them trailing just 7-3 at the break before the defending champions four ran in four second-half tries.
However, it could have been even worse for Kobe with Brave Lupus twice being called back after crossing the chalk for earlier infringements.
Elsewhere, Urayasu D-Rocks' stars Samu Kerevi and Israel Folau combined for three tries but it wasn't enough in a 43-42 defeat to Shuttles Aichi during the first leg of their promotion/relegation series.
Kerevi continued to push his Wallabies claim with a brace for D-Rocks - touching down in the 4th and 73rd minutes - but couldn't get his side over the line with former England flyhalf Freddie Burns slotting an 83rd-minute matchwinner for Shuttles.
Quade Cooper and Will Genia also had to come from behind in their return match. The Wallabies pair are to set to sign off from the Hanazono Liners, with relegation looming following's their side 29-25 loss to Mie Heat, for whom ex-Wallaby Tom Banks was a try-scorer.
Cooper contributed 10 points from the goalkicking tee, including a 72nd minute penalty goal to put Liners up 25-17 before the Heat scorched home with two late tries.
