But they've both had their injury problems leading into this season's finals series.

Now they are running into form and are raring to go in the Illawarra Carlton League grand final against Thirroul at WIN Stadium on Sunday.

Simmonds had experienced an outstanding season at both representative and club levels until tearing a medial ligament in his knee in late June against the Butchers at Gibson Park.

Barnes seriously damaged his ankle at the start of the regular season and came back early in the second round only to be sidelined with injury again. After successfully coming back late in the season, he was originally prevented from competing in the finals series because of an Illawarra league by-law which has since been amended.

"I can't wait to get out there Sunday and run around - I'm really pumped for it," said Barnes, who will be playing in his fifth grand final in seven years for Collies.

"I felt really flat (because of injuries).

"Midway through the year, I didn't want to play again, didn't think I'd make the finals. But I've come through a bit of drama and it's all come good."

Simmonds returned for the play-offs but it wasn't until the final last Sunday when he had to pass a late fitness test to play that his full confidence returned.

"It's really good - the best since I injured it," Simmonds said.

"Obviously there's been a fair bit of physio and a lot of rehab to get myself right to be able to play.

"I probably came back a couple of weeks early than I would have liked.

"But we were in the elimination stages of the competition and I felt like I had something to offer the team so I thought I'd risk it a little bit.

"I didn't pull up quite as well as I hoped after the first semi-final and I probably shouldn't have played in the second one versus Wests but against Dapto on the weekend it felt really good."