Germany captain Rittner and Czech mentor Pala are both hunting different histories in Prague at the weekend, with the hosts staring at a third team title in four years.
Meanwhile, visitors Germany are looking to break a 22-year drought in the event - with Rittner playing the last time they lifted the silverware.
"If I talk about all the singles matches, I think it's pretty open, 50-50, but they have much more experience in playing the final," Rittner said.
"This is our first final [this era] and this is their third final in four years and they have won it twice.
"They won it two years back in Prague in this arena so this is experience you need to have to win it again. But we will give our best and still try to win on the weekend."
Rittner can join elite company as people to have won the Cup as both player and captain, with Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Margaret Court the only three to previously do so.
The 41-year-old said she could not compare winning the event as a teenager to potentially guiding the nation to glory from the sidelines.
"I don't know, it's tough to compare," Rittner said.
"I was probably proud back then but it wasn't so obvious in my mind.
"Now it's more intense sitting there and being part of the team. Working with these girls all these years feels really good now."
Pala refuted the suggestion the Czechs were outright favourites, and said their last meeting - which ended 4-1 in favour of the Czechs in Stuttgart in 2012 - was closer than the scoreline suggested.
"I wouldn't say underdogs," Pala said of the German team.
"I know that they are very hungry, they are trying every year. It's a very strong team.
"I remember the last tie we played. It was really tight even though we came away with a 4-1 victory. But they are great players and I really expect a tough tie."
Top-10 players Petra Kvitova (fourth) and Angelique Kerber (10th) are set to headline their respective countries' singles ties on Saturday.