Here's a quick tip. From September to January I don't ride my road bike at all. I do lots of road rides, but I throw a set of road wheels on my cross bike. You're right that there are enough subtle differences in geometry and handling (and gearing and braking) that you have to become super-zen with your cross bike. That might be a good suggestion for you too!

Oh, and until this season, my road bikes were campy and my cross bikes were shimano. What a stupid decision that was. I finally switched the cross bike to campy, too!

Good luck on Saturday.

Oh, do you know anything about the courses for Saturday and Sunday? Are they courses that will suit you? You might want to consider that before you commit to "do or die."