Jonathan Trott believes two "great guys" have led England to the verge of history as they seek a first global one-day international trophy against world number one opponents India.
In the estimation of lynchpin batsman Trott - who has contributed 209 runs and counting to England's cause in the Champions Trophy - the leadership of coach Ashley Giles and captain Alastair Cook have rightly been the driving forces en route to Sunday's final.
Cook is in his first International Cricket Council tournament, while Giles will have gratifying redemption if he can oversee victory as coach, on his home ground at Edgbaston, in a competition which ended in disappointment for him as a player when he was a beaten finalist against the West Indies in 2004.
Giles, Trott's former coach and team-mate at Warwickshire, has taken the fast track in his new guise to this weekend's showpiece occasion - having taken over in his current role only in January.
It was then that England began their new policy of separate coaches for Test and limited-overs teams, with team director Andy Flower retaining charge in the longer format.
"He's been in the job six months and done really well," said Trott of Giles.
"He was really successful here at Warwickshire to get appointed to the job and he's just continued.
"He's obviously had to retire at an early age through injury and taken to coaching - and he really enjoys it.
"He really wants the guys to do well for themselves, not for his own accolades - he's a great team guy."
Giles will pit his wits this weekend against his own former Test coach, Duncan Fletcher - now in charge of India - and the team England beat at this same venue two years ago to go to the top of the world Test rankings for the first time.
"He's obviously played under a lot of good coaches - Bob Woolmer and Duncan Fletcher - and he's always had good insight on the game and always reads the game really well," Trott added of a colleague he has had good reason to value throughout the past decade.
"He didn't miss a trick in regards to how cricket was played - that's one of the things that has always stuck out for me.
"When watching cricket, he's always very observant - so you could never slip one behind really."
Trott has a similarly high regard for Cook, 12 years Giles' junior but a senior statesman already for England.
"He got brought in and played straightaway as opening batsman and captain, from not having played," the number three said of his skipper.
"A lesser person could have maybe buckled under the pressure.
"We've seen how he handles pressure, going to India for his first tour as Test captain and winning there - and now this."
Cook's limited-overs team have had ups and downs already, losing 5-0 in India two winters ago but unbeaten at home until New Zealand defeated them 2-1 in the NatWest Series this month.
"A lot of people were a bit sceptical," said Trott, pictured right.
"But this team has proved a few people wrong with regards to their takes on the game of cricket and how it should be played.
"He (Cook) is a really good leader and he's always got the backing of the changing room, for whatever he decides is the direction of this team.
"He's fully in charge, with Andy and Ashley, and the guys are always following him."
Integrity and determination appear to be the characteristics Trott most admires in Cook.
"He leads by example - that's the most important thing a captain can do, setting the tone, working hard, ethics," said the 32-year-old.
"He's just a good all-round person. Being really open and honest is another important thing.
"Being approachable as a captain - especially if you're a younger player coming in; you want to feel you can go to the leader of the ship and say to him 'is this right?' - his door is always open.
"He's an all-round great guy really."
Under Cook and Giles, England have tapped into some winning momentum just when they needed to.
"It's always nice to take that confidence into the final," said Trott.
"Having been tested throughout the tournament, coming back from a loss against Sri Lanka and playing well against New Zealand in a must-win game shows the guys are handling pressure really well.
"We've played some good cricket to get to the final and we hope we can finish it off."