The last time the Sky Blues played in a grand final, Grant was forced to watch from a hotel.
It was 2021 and Grant was in COVID-19 quarantine after returning from World Cup qualifiers in Kuwait with the Socceroos as the Sky Blues suffered a 3-1 loss to Melbourne City.
It was a stark contrast to the previous year, when the right-back scored the match-winning goal against City in extra time to seal the club's fifth championship.
Now wearing the captain's armband, Grant has another chance on the grand final stage and will lead the Sky Blues in Saturday's sold-out decider against Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium.
It will be the 35-year-old's fifth ALM grand final appearance, having also claimed the championship title in 2010, 2017 and 2019.
Sydney are vying for a record-extending sixth championship, while Auckland - led by Sky Blues great Steve Corica - are out to become the first Kiwi team to win an ALM grand final.
"I've played in a lot of them, but that was pretty heartbreaking to miss a grand final," Grant said on Friday.
"Sitting in a hotel watching it and not being able to contribute - it's nice to be here now again.
"It doesn't happen too often, so I'm just trying to soak it up as much as possible."
His grand final heroics extend back to 2017, having scored the equaliser to set up a triumph on penalties over Melbourne Victory.
No longer sporting the mullet made iconic by performances such as that, Grant was bullish his side's young talent would prove their mettle.
With former City coach Patrick Kisnorbo now at the helm, the club's last starting line-up included Akol Akon (17), Tiago Quintal (19), Wataru Kamijo (20), Paul Okon Jnr (21) and Piero Quipse (24).
Akon is set to become the youngest player to feature in an ALM grand final after celebrating his birthday on Thursday.
"I've had to show a few boys some clips. A lot of them are too young to remember my peak," Grant joked.
"Nah yeah, there's definitely a few boys asking and trying to suss out what the week's like.
"When you're young, you sort of don't really give a - you don't really care, do you?
"You just go for it, and that's a positive that a lot of our young players have."
Sydney's history with Auckland only dates back to six matches across competitions.
But they have not beaten the league's youngest club in six attempts and have lost each away match at Go Media Stadium - both 1-0 Â defeats.
Grant isn't concerned about their poor history against the Kiwi team, with Kisnorbo calling the shots.
"When we've played them in the past earlier in the season, PK wasn't here, so things were a little bit different," Grant said.
"It (1-0 loss at Go Media Stadium) was not the greatest result earlier in the season, but I'm sure that will have mostly no impact."
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