JOHANNESBURG The last time the Dolphins lifted a trophy, current coach Lance Klusener was their captain .
He hoped to change that when his side take on the Cape Cobras in Sunday's domestic T20 final at Newlands in Cape Town.
The Durban side's last victory was In the 2005/2006 season, when they shared the four-day competition with the Titans, yet it was so long ago even Klusener was unsure of when the Dolphins' last trophy came around.
“Dale Benkenstein was telling me that the last one we won, he was playing in so, that's probably a hundred years ago,” Klusener joked.
Regardless of the date, everyone involved with the Dolphins is aware of just how important a trophy could be to a young, developing team trying to put an era of mediocrity behind it.
“I think the most important thing really is some reward for what these young guys have done,” said Klusener.
“They've stood up and built a team that can now win stuff, and it will be credit for them and reward for their hard work and determination.”
By contrast, the Cobras have become familiar with success, picking up eight trophies, albeit two shared, over the past five seasons.
They have also won all four of their finals at Newlands. However, the Cobras line-up will be different from the one which carried them to top of the log.
Proteas Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Robin Peterson and Vernon Philander will not be available, and West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has departed.
That leaves Dane Piedt, Lizaad Williams and Sybrand Engelbrecht to step up for the big occasion, although Paul Adams' side had also been boosted by the availability of Jacques Kallis.
“He's away with the Proteas camp at the moment, but he's had a couple of nets with us this week so he will be ready,” Adams said.
“Before the campaign he had a little niggle from the Springbok game, but we've been communicating. He's excited to play the final, and he'll bring a lot of calmness, which is crucial given that we'll be without the Proteas players.”
The game gets underway at 2.30pm, and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. – Sapa