The pair are former school friends, played junior soccer together from the age of 11 and now work together at Macquarie Garage Doors.

But come Sunday they will be enemies when they clash at Wanderers Oval in the Northern NSW State League grand final.

Championship spoils are not the only thing up for the grabs for Sunday's victor.

"Who ever wins gets mad Monday off and the loser has to come to work," Higgins said.

The two defenders do not clash often on the field, but it does not stop them from having a few jibes at each other.

"We don't come into contact with each other much [on the field]. I come up for the corners and we have bit of a go at each other then, just mucking around," Hodges said.

"There's a bit more [sledging] before the game and at work."

Higgins, 20, is the youngest member of the starting Magic side at right back, but Hodges, 20, is older than several of his Azzurri teammates.

Higgins and Hodges met when they played juniors at Adamstown, they were in the same year at Kotara High School and played in the Newcastle-Port Stephens youth teams. After that their soccer paths went in different directions.

Hodges made his debut for Azzurri first grade in round five last season and Higgins cracked the Magic starting XI in July after Glenn Cooper broke his toe.

Higgins has played every game since his debut, but Hodges has struggled with an ankle ligament injury for the past five weeks.

Hodges was rested on the Azzurri bench in last Saturday's semi-final against Hamilton, but the suspension of skipper Will Pryce means he is a certain starter in central defence on Sunday.

Hodges attempted to lure his mate to Azzurri at the start of the season, but Higgins stayed and the decision has proven fruitful.

Magic are firm favourites to win the grand final, and Higgins said he hoped the mentoring he had received from the likes of experienced teammates David Baillie and Doug West would hold him in good stead for Sunday's decider.

"I'd say the pressure is on us to win because Azzurri is full of young guys and weren't expected to get near the semi-finals," Higgins said.

"Given that we're minor premiers, the pressure is on us big time."