Róisín Black is expecting Cork to pose a "really difficult" challenge the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship final on Sunday.
However, the Galway captain said the Tribeswomen have a "team of leaders" who will be ready to step up and give it their best shot.
Galway are returning to Croke Park for the All Ireland final for the first time since overcoming the Rebels three years ago.
Cork meanwhile, are defending champions having beaten Waterford last year, and have also appeared in every final in the last four years.
Black told RTÉ Sport: "Whenever we play Cork, they're really intense games and it really comes down to the wire.
"We know that Cork are a great team and they're going to be raring to go to get back-to-back All Irelands, so we know that’s going to be a really difficult challenge ahead of us.
"But we’re going to focus on ourselves and give it our best shot as well."
An impressive late show in the semi-final against Tipperary at UPMC Nowlan Park last month carried Galway across the finish line and into their first final in three years.
"We never gave up, we dug out in the dying moments of the game, that showed the great character of our team, great experience as well. It was a great performance in the end," the Oranmore Maree defender said.
Two frees from Carrie Dolan either side of an equalising point from Aoife Donohue gave the Tribeswomen the win over Tipp by a single point.
"We're lucky that we have a team of leaders. The last day the likes of Niamh Mallon, Niamh Kilkenny, Dervla Higgins, Carrie Dolan, they all stepped up.
"I could name a lot more other girls but we're very lucky we have a team of leaders and everyone steps up when needed," Black said.
For Black, who was named captain of the Galway camogie squad this year, she said it would mean everything to win on Sunday after what she described as a difficult championship.
"The teams this year in the championship have really stepped up and it's been really difficult. We've had a hard championship and we’re just delighted to be back in the All Ireland final," she said.
"It would mean everything, not just for ourselves but for our families, our clubs, our county, our management. Everyone has worked really hard behind the scenes so it would mean the world," she added.
Watch the All-Ireland Camogie Championship finals, Laois v Tipperary in junior at 1pm, Cork v Kilkenny in intermediate at 3pm and Cork v Galway in senior at 5.15pm. All games on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
