Crash Bandicoot's move from box eight in last week's heat to box two in tonight's final gives the new addition to trainer Dean Swain's kennels a great chance of taking out tonight's Canberra Cup.
The Denice Warren-trained Smooth Blend defeated Crash Bandicoot by a length in a blistering 30.40 for the 530m, easily fastest of the four heat times.
But while Smooth Blend jumped smartly and received a clear run from box five, Crash Bandicoot found trouble from his extreme outside draw.
In flashing home to finish second, Crash Bandicoot stopped the clock at 30.47 and was actually second quickest of the eight qualifiers for tonight's final.
Crash Bandicoot was recently purchased by the Punters HQ Syndicate and had his first start for Swain in a heat of the group 1 Perth Cup on April 14 and after drawing box eight, finished fifth.
"Crash Bandicoot's previous trainer Anthony Azzopardi advised me that the dog was not much good from box eight so I was pleased with his second in the Canberra Cup heat,'' new trainer Swain said.
"He is certainly much better off drawn near the rails in the final.''
Joe Lannutti, manager of the syndicate which now owns Crash Bandicoot, said: "This dog now has 12 owners and four of them have not previously raced a greyhound.
"Several are heading to Canberra hoping to cheer their new greyhound to victory.
"We give him a great chance from box two because from that draw Crash Bandicoot has won six of his previous eight races.''
Smooth Blend, Crash Bandicoot's heat conqueror, tends to be hit or miss at box rise but he nailed the start to lead at the first turn in his heat.
After being headed on the back straight, Smooth Blend regained the lead coming to the home turn, where Crash Bandicoot was finishing fast but was blocked for a run.
Smooth Blend races in the middle of the track, so under normal circumstances his box six Cup final draw would be suitable.
But the presence in box seven of last year's Cup winner Champion Model could be a stumbling block.
Champion Model has brilliant early pace and is a keen railer, so may crowd Smooth Blend in the charge to the first turn.
Champion Model's trainer Jodie Lord has won three Canberra Cup finals, with Shuttle Train, Uno Suzie and with this year's finalist in 2017.
Lord has two finalists tonight, Champion Model, who won her heat in 30.81sec from a suitable box two draw, and Flyrite, who chased home Nino De Oro and was beaten a neck in 30.65sec.
"Champion Model does not have a great draw but I still think she can win the Cup,'' Lord said.
"I don't think Barbie's Chance, who has box eight, will worry her in the early stages and I believe Champion Model has the early pace needed to cross to the lead at the first turn.
"I trained Crash Bandicoot at the beginning of his career and knowing how good he is from an inside alley I think he is the dog to beat.''
The other heat winner was Keysile, who started from box two and won by a length from Myrniong Lana in 30.69sec.
Keysile is trained at Collector by Andrew Mulrine, and in her heat the greyhound was having only her third hit-out over a distance longer than 500m.
Mulrine's wife Kim expects Keysile to "find'' a tenth or two on last week's run but concedes the greyhound faces a tough task in such a quality field.
Nino De Oro, trained by Bali-born Subawa Ngurah, has drawn the prized rails box.
Ngurah, the proprietor of a security firm, trains greyhounds as a hobby and received Nino De Oro as a gift from the dog's breeder, former Bulldogs rugby league forward Barry Ward.
Ward bred Nino De Oro from his brood bitch Solar Park, and her mating to Fernando Bale produced a sensational litter in November, 2015.
Nino De Oro's litter siblings include Little Digger, Phoenix Pak, Off The Leash, Zagati and Manila Kampyon, all outstanding metropolitan performers.
The race gets under way at 7pm.
Canberra Cup box draw:
1 Nino De Oro
2 Crash Bandicoot
3 Flyrite
4 Keysile
5 Myrniong Lana
6 Smooth Blend
7 Champion Model
8 Barbie's Chance
Reserves
9 Royal Turbo
10 Especial Shiraz
