By MARK CASHMAN

There are bigger names in the Eastern Suburbs Shute Shield side that launches its finals campaign against Eastwood on Sunday but none more vital to the Beasties than skipper and scrum half Jack Grant.

Rob Leota, Alex Newsome and Lalaki Foketi to name a few, but Grant has been the quiet achiever of the star-studded Easts side that has gone eight rounds of the premiership without a loss and coach Pauli Taumoepeau says he has found his groove.

“Jack has been great down the stretch leading into the finals,” Taumoepeau said.

“He’s developing as a leader and as our captain. I’ve seen him grown from strength to strength as he navigates his way through the season with the added leadership role.

“He’s certainly found his groove.”

When the Beasties’ rep players came back into the group at the end of Super Rugby AU, Taumoepeau called on his “regulars” to show the way to the “new boys”.

That is something that he has done well marshalling the big Easts pack and making sure that the ball is spread when the time is appropriate.

There will be no surprises from Easts on the weekend – they will try and command the middle of the field with their large bodied back row and then push the ball wide when they have earned the right to.

Taumoepeau says that last weekend’s huge win over Randwick will play no role in what transpires on Sunday.

“I don’t think a win or a loss last week will play any role in what happens this weekend,” he added.

“Eastwood are a well balanced side. They have big powerful ball carriers with enough strike to catch you should you start to defend too narrow.

“They lead the league in most clean breaks and carries per game.

“We have three weeks of sudden death football now which is very exciting and a great challenge for us as a group.”

Eastwood coach Ben Batger believes Easts should be heavily favoured to win this game but argues that finals footy is a vastly different beast.

“You’ve got to say that Easts are the form side of the competition and with a host a Super Rugby players and a long winning streak they are the competition favourites,” Batger said.

“The key to us winning is about doing the basics and taking opportunities.

“Finals football isn’t about flashy moves or players it’s about working hard for each other, controlling what you can control and execution of basic football skills better than the opposition.

EASTERN SUBURBS (1-15):

Vunipola Fifita, Lindsey Stevens/Moli Sooaemalelagi, Archer Holz, Ryan McCauley, Jack Digby, Dean Oakman-Hunt, Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota, Jack Grant (c), Cohan Guerra, Henry Paterson, Lalaki Foketi, Alex Newsome, Richie Woolf, Dan Donato.

EASTWOOD (1-15):

Jed Gillespie, Ed Craig, Rhys Sheriff, Tim Anstee, Charles Granger, Ratu Tuisese, Tom Murphy, Pat Sio, Matt Gonzalez, Tane Edmed, Fabian Goodall, Enoka Muliufi, Devan Stoltz, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Chris Bell.

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON