Easts are aiming to keep hold of the number one spot on the first grade table when they come up against second-placed Guyra this Saturday.
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In round one Easts managed to get a one-wicket win over their opponents in a tight finish still fresh in their memories.
“Guyra nearly got it over us in the first game so we have to be on the ball and hopefully we can get the win,” Easts captain Todd Francis said.
“We will just do what we can control as a team and then if that gets us our result, happy days.
“We can’t worry what they are up to, that is for them to work out and for us to try and nullify.
“They are pretty strong across the park, no matter who they bat or where they bat they are pretty dangerous so we just have go to do our best to beat them.
“It should be a pretty good game of cricket to be honest.”
But you have got to respect them for going back and playing with Guyra, it is where they are from and where they grew up.
- Todd Francis
Francis’ counterpart, Guyra skipper Matt Jackson, along with paceman Tyson Burey played a part in Easts’ premiership wins last season. The duo returned to Guyra for the current season and a bit of friendly banter, which has already started, is expected.
“It will be a bit different facing against them to be honest, given they were part of our club for a few years,” Francis said.
“But you have got to respect them for going back and playing with Guyra, it is where they are from and where they grew up.
“They were part of our club for a long time and premiership players at our club so it will be good to come up against them and should be a pretty fun affair.
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“We always have good fun against Guyra because even a few of the blokes that play for us now are from Guyra so it is what it is.”
Continuing on from Cody’s Graham’s standout century against Ex-Services on Saturday, Easts are hoping another of their top five can fire.
Earlier in the week Francis said “one of our top five to go on with a big score because that sets up our whole innings.”
The Guyra captain has the same belief.
“It is just the same as every week, someone go on with it, make a start and go on with it. He [Francis] just copies what I say, he just reads my articles and copies what I say,” Matt Jackson said.
“If one person can get a few runs and everyone else chips in around them it makes a big difference.
With experience in key roles as well as a handful of young up-and-comers in both sides, Francis believes it is “pretty even across the board.”
Easts are close to full-strength with just question marks remaining over whether opening bowler Jackson Gwynne returns.
The teenager suffered an injury against Hillgrove nearly a month ago.
“Still waiting to find out if Jackson is right to play, we are still not sure yet. Apart from him I think we are pretty close,” Francis said.
