The final round of the first grade cricket season begins on Saturday with a top-of-the-table clash between Hillgrove and Easts.
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Both sides will be aiming to get the upper hand before heading into the finals series and, with a one day decider win in their most recent outing, Easts hope they can continue their form against their local rivals.
While Easts hold a healthy lead on the ladder, captain Sam Uphill said they are still aiming to take a win and hold a mental edge over Hillgrove for the start of the semi-finals.
“It would be still nice to beat them,” he said.
“We have to bat well, that is probably our main thing so if we do that and hopefully bowl well again and get a good result.”
With the last two weeks washed out and Hillgrove having the bye the round before, its been a long time between drinks for the side.
Captain Matt Schaefer said his team will being their best to take the wind out of their opponents’ sails.
“They are the form side at the moment having just won the one day final and I think they are going quite well,” he said.
“We just want to put a good performance up, hopefully take a first innings win and take confidence into the finals.
“It will let us know where we are in terms of the competition.”
Easts bagged last Sunday’s grand final win off the back of a strong bowling performance and Schaefer said that is an area his side are aiming to combat.
“I think that's their strength, their bowling and to be fair the batting in the comp this year across all the sides hasn't been strong,” he said.
“If our batsmen can stand up and make our way through those bowlers, that will go a long way to getting a win.”
But they’ll have to do it without a handful of their top grade players.
“We actually have a few guys out this weekend, we will be missing four guys out of our regular side,” Schaefer said.
“Fortunately for us we have the bye in second grade so I will be bringing a couple of guys up from second grade, Andrew Byrne, Andrew Curry and Henry Sindel so it is good we have those guys to draw on.”
The round’s other clash will be between Guyra and Ex-Services.
Guyra are set to miss the finals but will search to finish their season on a high note after taking a victory against City in their most recent outing.
“Like I said after the City game, I feel we are sitting in a similar position to Servies, both on the ladder and out in the field,” captain Charlie Keen said.
“I would like to see the same intensity with bowling and the fielding as we did against City and again show some patience and get off to a tidy start with the bat.”