ORANGE’S Daniel Mortimer played in the victorious Parramatta SG Ball side last year but says that will not compare to what he will come up against in the Toyota Cup finals.

Mortimer was part of Parramatta’s under 18s 2007 premiership team and will now represent the Eels on Saturday in their Toyota Cup qualifying final against Penrith.

It is the inaugural season of the under 20s competition and while no one knows exactly what to expect in the Toyota Cup finals, Mortimer is anticipating rugby league like he has never experienced before.

But with this the first year of the national youth competition, every player is in the same position.

“It was a big year last year with the pressure and that but nothing yet has matched the 20s before the semis,” Mortimer said.

“Everyone is in the same boat this year so we’re just going through it together.”

The Eels will face the Panthers at Brookvale Oval on Saturday ahead of the NRL qualifying final between Manly and St George Illawarra.

Parramatta finished the regular season fifth and as the Toyota Cup also uses the eight-team McIntyre system in the finals, the Eels need to beat Penrith or rely on any two out of the Dragons, Bulldogs or Titans to lose to stay alive.

The Panthers have had Parramatta’s measure this season coming up with two wins from two games.

Mortimer has been named at five-eighth despite the return of NRL half Kris Keating, who has been included on an extended interchange bench.

The Orange junior expects Keating to play either fullback or centre on Saturday, and with his return and that of hulking back Tony Williams, Mortimer thinks the Eels can make it third time lucky against the Panthers.

“It’s the old battle of western Sydney, they lift to play us. They seem pretty hot and cold but they’re always hot against us,” Mortimer said.

“(But) with a couple of NRL players back we might be able to get over the line.”

And while the Eels are fifth favourite to win the premiership at $6 with TAB Sportsbet, they head into the finals having not lost in their last seven games.

They finished the regular season with two draws and Mortimer thinks the Eels have the momentum to perform in the finals.

“We’re starting to hit some good form ... we haven’t lost in seven weeks and we’re one of the form teams heading into the finals,” he said.