Akbar Ali's Rangpur Division will pit their skills against Mohammad Naim's Dhaka Metro as the NCL T20 final unfolds at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

The two sides have faced off twice already in the tournament, with Dhaka Metro winning the first encounter by seven wickets and Rangpur winning the second game -- a virtual semifinal scenario -- by four wickets in the first qualifier.

Rangpur will look to offset Metro's top-order with their all-rounders. Alauddin Babu, who is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far, has shone with all-round performances, while pacer Mukidul Islam will want to keep his improvement curve going.

In skipper Akbar, Rangpur have someone in the middle to really help the scoring rate, having batted at a strike rate of just over 150, averaging over 41.

Akbar's counterpart, Mohammad Naim, has been in fine form as the top run-scorer of the tournament, while youngsters such as Rakibul Islam have turned up with the ball. Abu Haider has shown promise with bat and ball, and they can also bank on the experience of Mosaddek Hossain.

"Obviously, it's a final, but we are thinking of it as a normal game. When you think it's too big, the pressure ultimately comes on you," Akbar said at the press conference yesterday.

"The way Dhaka Metro has been playing throughout the tournament, to beat them, we have to play our best cricket," he added.

"In our team, there have been 6-7 players who have had player-of-the-match performances. Those that play the best will win," Naim said as the two sides take on the task of winning the inaugural NCL T20 competition.