Shimano xtr derailleur - shifter compatibility

[oregun]

I'm in the process of rebuilding a Cannondale MTB. (long story short I traded my old bike for a Cann. frame plus a box of parts. )

The current configuration is a Shimano XTR rear derailleur with an SRAM X7 shifter.

Now I realize now that the X7 shifter is not compatible with the XTR. My question will *ANY* Shimano shifter work with the XTR, or do you *HAVE* to purchase the XTR shifter?

For instance I have my eye on a "Shimano SL-M410 Alivio 8-Speed Shift Lever Set" on Amazon for about $30.00.

The XTR shifter is about 10 times that price.

Will the SL-M410 work with the XTR?

[nfmisso]

Which XTR - there have been several generations of XTR components? Is it a 10 speed XTR ? If not proceed below, if it is a 10 speed, it may only work with a 10 speed shifter. 10 speeds are finicky.

If it is 9 or less speeds, it will work with any 5 to X speed Shimano compatible shifter for RDs (where X is the specified number of speeds of the RD). Thus it would work with the SL_M410 shift lever set.