The saying goes that you have to `be in it to win it'.

And there can be no denying that Devonshire Colts have followed this axiom, gaining berths in four FA Cup finals in as many years.

The Halloween Kids' problem, though, has been in the completion of the task once they get to the ultimate stage.

Ten times since 1997 Colts have earned a spot in the final of a major competition, but have come away with an overall losing record, winning four while losing six, including a 1-2 record in the FA Cup.

Sunday saw Colts once again go through to the FA final with a 3-2 victory over Wolves, but the question again begs ... Will they fold once they step out on the `carpet'? Captain Shannon Burgess firmly believes they can win this time and finds no problem with his side matching up physically against North Village when the time comes. His concern though is whether they will arrive mentally prepared.

"This team likes to be on show I guess, but we have to realise that we need to mentally and physically prepare for a battle against North Village,'' said Burgess, a rock in the heart of Colts' defence all season.

"In the last couple of finals this season I don't think, mentally, we've prepared like we should have.

"In the Dudley Eve we came in with the right mind-set in the first leg and, before the sending-off, we could have put a couple of goals into Village and ended it that night.

"I feel some of the officiating on that night was really unfair, so mentally and physically we were drained going into the second leg.

"In the Martonmere final we simply were not prepared. I don't think we were playing well at all leading up to that final, but in fact we probably played the best we had during the match to that point in the season.

"However, we have to prepare better if we're going to win the FA. If we can get over the few injuries that we have right now and prepare for these last three games, which I feel will be battles, we can have a pretty successful season.'' Burgess placed the blame for last year's 2-1 FA Cup defeat at the hands of the Red Devils squarely on his own shoulders, intimating that he was not mentally prepared.

"I take a lot of blame for that loss. We were flat the whole game, and I'm the leader of this team and they look towards me for guidance,'' continued Burgess.

"And after the World Cup and the way we went out I wasn't really motivated for the FA Cup final and I failed to motivate my team.

"I have to be a leader and come prepared to guide my team to victory.'' In Village the captain sees a very confident team that enjoys playing a possession game. He said the onus would be on Colts to identify key plays and disrupt any flow his opponents would seek to establish while imparting their own game plan.

The final is scheduled for April 8.

On your knees: Wolves' Mark Ray (front) and Jahmah Samuels of Devonshire Colts tangle as they try to gain possession of a loose ball during Sunday's FA Cup semi-final. Referee Richard Knight and Jermaine Belboda look on. Colts won 3-2 to advance to their fourth successive FA Cup Final.