Jewell chases winning feeling

Nick Jewell says there is a different feel in Victoria's squad as the players push to end their losing streak in domestic finals. The Bushrangers host Queensland in the Sheffield Shield decider at the Junction Oval from Friday and have a serious advantage after scoring 806 against the Bulls at the MCG in the last game of the regular season.

Jewell, a key batsman in the Victoria squad, hoped the performance would leave the visitors demoralised. "A few of their quicks bowled 50-odd overs," Jewell told AAP. "If we get off to a good start, win the toss and bat and get through the new ball, there's going to be some sore bodies and a few scars there from this game."

The Bushrangers, who are unbeaten in first-class matches this summer, have been runners-up twice in the past three years and have lost the FR Cup and Twenty20 deciders in 2008-09. "It feels different to the other Shield finals I've played in," Jewell said. "There's a bit more of an air of confidence about us.

"The one a couple of years ago, in Queensland, we had to make 360-odd to beat Western Australia in the last game at the Junction Oval to make it. That was like our grand final. We chased that total down and I think we played our grand final in that match because we got smashed in Queensland. Last year we did pretty well but came up against basically the Test team [playing for New South Wales].

"This year it feels different within the group. We haven't conceded a point all season and I don't think we're about to start now. Everybody's pretty confident and determined to get the job done."

Jewell will appear in his 50th match during the final and wants to correct the previous losses. "You could almost retire and walk away at the end of the season if we get away with the result that we're after on the weekend," he said. "It would be that satisfying."