“It was a bit disappointing,” Sam Uphill said.

“We had a few away at a wedding that made us a bit light on, but you just have to deal with those things.”

Easts are still in the hunt, albeit at long odds, for the minor premiership, which would give them an automatic berth in the two-day grand final and a weekend off to await the semi-final winner.

But Uphill insists it won’t be the end of the world if they do miss out on top spot.

“I’d never say no to a minor premiership,” he said.

“But I’ve always said I’ve hated that week off.

“Whether it’s cricket or even hockey I think you lose a bit of momentum.

“It takes you half a game to get into the grand final.”

Easts take on Ex-Services at Lambert Park tomorrow in the second last round prior to the finals.

Easts may have won the one-day final on Australia Day, but they have lost their only other two matches in 2016, leaving Uphill anxiously hoping his side re-finds their magic touch tomorrow with the finals fast approaching.

“We’ve got to get ourselves ready for semi-final cricket,” he said.

On paper, and ladder position, Easts appear heavy favourites to topple Servies, but Uphill said there were no easy games for any side this season.

“I think results prove that,” he said.

“We’ve lost to all three sides now.

“There are no easy wins.

“In saying that, if we get on top of Servies early, I’d like to think we would towel them up.”

As has become custom for opposing captains this season, it was Cody Graham who Uphill highlighted as the danger man for Servies.

“If we get Cody early, that’s big for us,” he said.

While Servies’ batting has lacked firepower away from two or three key players, they have plenty of strikepower with the ball in hand.

“You have to bat well against them,” Uphill said.

“They have a lot of good seam-up bowlers.”

The other match of the round sees City take on Hillgrove at the Armidale Sportsground.