SYDNEY UNIVERSITY five-eighth Daniel Halangahu says the Students will need to put in their best grand final performance of the past decade if they are to overcome Eastwood to win a seventh straight Shute Shield premiership and send Phil Waugh out a winner.

The former Wallabies and Waratahs captain will officially end his career at Concord Oval today.

Despite the University side looking the goods, with no fewer than 14 players who have played Super Rugby, Halangahu said that for the first time in seven years the Students were underdogs. Eastwood have lost just one match this season.

''And that was a mid-week game with their whole team backing up,'' said the Waratahs playmaker, who missed last year's premiership win because due to injury. ''They're favourites in many ways because they've killed it all year and they deserve to be there - they handed it to Randwick [77-15] last week. The last couple of years we've probably gone into the game as favourites, but this year you wouldn't say that. It looks like it's going to be our toughest final in quite a few years.''

Eastwood will field former Wallabies prop Matt Dunning, who has overcome a neck injury, while dropped Wallabies flyer Lachie Turner will be playing with a point to prove.

''While we have a lot of talent, a lot of our guys haven't played together all year,'' Halangahu said. ''Also, the combinations aren't as strong as they have been or could be.

''The core of their group, however, has been playing together the whole season. We've got the more recognised players but those reputations don't count for much. They've got guys who have been doing the job and doing it well.

''They put Randwick to the sword like no one has seen for a long time last weekend, and if they're going to play that kind of footy then clearly, it's going to be a pretty tough afternoon. They know how to take opportunities because they've got a guy like Lachie Turner who is taking out his frustration from missing the World Cup on a few club rugby players.''