Both sides finished the Goulburn Valley League season with 12 wins and were separated by a staggering 0.34 per cent on the ladder.
And they enter tomorrow's clash at Rochester's Moon Oval with a 1-1 record from their two meetings this season — adding more theatre to the do-or-die contest.
The Swans saluted in round four with a 37-25 win and the Bears flipped the result in round 15, clinching a 47-38 victory.
Tomorrow will be the first finals meeting between the two sides since the 2017 semi-finals and Swans coach Dylan Nexhip said his side was ready to go.
"Yeah, absolutely, finals are what you play for," Nexhip said.
"Hopefully we can take our chances when they arise."
But it's been a tough season in the medical department for the Swans.
They head into tomorrow's clash without star attacking option Jana Bruinier and Annie Cobbledick due to injuries.
However, Nexhip praised his side and stand-in captain Julie Telford — who has had a superb season in defence for the Swans — for the way they have overcome the injuries.
"We've had a pretty rough season with injuries, losing both our captain and vice-captain.
"The girls have a done a great job sticking together and overcoming those issues.
"Julie has done a great job filling the captaincy role, she gives 110 per cent every time.
"She's a class act."
Nexhip's Shepparton counterpart, Tracey Brereton, said her group was now excited to get stuck in to finals after knowing of its fate in recent weeks.
"The girls are now happy that it's finals time," Brereton said.
"For the past couple of weeks we knew we would be playing finals and I think that it was a bit of a distraction for us.
"But I'm confident that we aren't here making up the numbers.
"It's going to be an exciting series, any six sides have the chance to win."
Brereton said she was expecting a defensive game tomorrow and highlighted the consistent efforts from her defenders, led by Ash Cann, Laura Ryan and Kate Durling.
"I think it's going to be quite a defensive game," she said.
"Our defence has been in great form, the whole unit has been very consistent this year."
