The 33-year-old is preparing for a thrill of a lifetime by having two starters in a Group 1 race for the first time in his 15-year career in harness racing.

While Marshall, a diesel mechanic by day and a trainer in the morning and at night, has decidedly modest expectations heading into Saturday, there is a quiet sense of excitement and pride in having got this far with his youngsters Racing Time and Classically Smooth.

"I had one (a Group 1 runner) a long time ago, but that was on default really. He was an emergency," he said.

"To be honest, I don't think we can win it, but if we can run top four or five I'll be very happy."

Fifth was exactly where both horses finished in their respective heat runs at Ballarat on May 20 to qualify for the $135,000 final.

The heat was Racing Time's first race start, while Classically Smooth showed a glimpse of his considerable promise with a win on debut at Yarra Valley earlier in the month, before taking on the likes of the undefeated Emma Stewart-trained gelding Beach Villa in the heat.

Marshall was reasonably happy with both horses' performance at Ballarat and insists they are capable of improvement.

Albeit, he added, the same could be said about the rest of the field.

"Racing Time was last at the top of the straight, but was getting home well before running up the back of a couple going across the line," he said.

"To be fair, with a clear run, he probably should have been able to beat another one or two home.

"Classically Smooth, he was the only horse who wasn't on the fence that ran top five, the rest of them battled.

"They went pretty quick in that, 1:55.4 - and I'm sure they'll go even slicker (on Saturday)."

Asked to assess which of his two runners was the better chance, Marshall struggled to split the pair.

"To be honest, there's not much between them when they work together," he said.

"It's an achievement being there, but to be brutally honest, I'd like to say I had more of a chance.

"But this is what you aim for when you are doing it and you have to be in it to win it."

Marshall, who has been training since the 2006-07 season, has notched up 31 winners in that time from 446 starters, with the addition of 69 minor placings.

Due to a suspension starting on Friday night, Classically Smooth will now be driven by Ellen Tormey instead of Jack Laugher, while Luke McCarthy will take the reins on Racing Time, who is a half-brother to Group 1-winning Queenslander First String.

Adding to the thrill for Marshall, Classically Smooth is co-owned by his mother, sister, brother and brother-in-law.

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