Matthew Dawson has taken a "lead from the front" approach into the inaugural Hockey One campaign.
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The NSW Pride co-captain and Kookaburras defender will look to maintain that mentality as the national competition reaches the do-or-die stages this weekend.
Dawson, along with fellow Norths product Ky Willott, will feature for the undefeated minor premiers when they host Hockey Club Melbourne in Saturday's semi-final at Sydney Olympic Park.
"We have a really young group and I've got a little bit of experience now," the Rio Olympian, Commonwealth Games gold medalist and FIH Pro League winner said.
"So it's about passing a bit of that knowledge on and it's pretty exciting to develop into that role in a senior team.
"I feel like I'm starting to play some really consistent hockey and if I can lead from the front I think that's the best form of leadership. Hopefully I can keep doing that and the boys will follow."
The 25-year-old, who has now played 132 Tests for Australia, has yet to win the country's top domestic league and wants to make 2019 count.
"I never won the [former] Australian Hockey League [AHL]," Dawson said.
"It's really tough to win and we've got a really good opportunity now, so hopefully we can get it right and we're holding up the trophy in two weeks time."
Dawson reckons this year's successful run during the preliminary rounds is consistency and remains confident the Pride will handle the switch into sudden-death mode.
"The last six weeks we've basically kept the same side together, outside a couple of changes here and there, so we've had that consistency and been able to build," he said.
"Finals are always different, but it'll be important to stay calm and not get frustrated."
Hunter Coast Premier Hockey League pair Hayden Dillon and BJ Bruton, who both play for Wests, have lined up for NSW throughout this campaign but were not named in the Pride's game-day squad.
Play gets underway at 1pm.
In Saturday's other semi, Brisbane are at home to the Tassie Tigers.
In the women's Hockey One play-offs, top-ranked Blaze are at home to Adelaide Fire on Saturday and Canberra Chill visit Melbourne on Sunday.
FINALS FIXTURES: Men - NSW Pride v Hockey Club Melbourne on Saturday (1pm), Brisbane Blaze v Tassie Tigers on Saturday (7:30pm). Women - Brisbane Blaze v Adelaide Fire on Saturday (6pm), Hockey Club Melbourne v Canberra Chill on Sunday (2:30pm).