HORSHAM Saints is all that stands between Rup-Minyip and any hope the club has of reaching Horsham Cricket Association A Grade finals.
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The two clubs will meet for the first day of their round 12 clash at Coughlin Park on Saturday.
With the Blue Panthers in fifth place and needing to make up 12 points from the final two games, anything less than at least a first innings win will rule them out of finals actions.
Blue Panthers’ veteran Glenn Morgan said his side knew what needed to be done to secure the points.
“The thing every week is keep your wickets intact and make as many runs as possible,” he said.
‘Everyone know that we have to get the win.”
To get there however, they will have to overcome a rampaging Horsham Saints team that has hit a purple match in recent matches.
The Saints expect to be at full strength for the clash, with only top order batsman Ben Sawyer missing from the Saturday’s line-up.
Saints captain Tony Caccaviello said the Blue Panthers were a quality team who would be desperate to get a shot at finals.
“It is a big game for them and they always play really well,” he said, ““the two-day game suits them and over the last 25 years they have been the best in that time, so you have to be wary of that.
“They are definitely better than where they are on the ladder.”
The Saints have been in outstanding form with a big win against Homers in round 11.
It came largely off the back of Caccaviello’s hat-trick on day two to remove the Pigeons’ middle order.
But not only is their bowling attack performing, the batsmen are also in some good form.
Combined with the home ground advantage at Coughlin Park, they will be tough to overcome.
Caccaviello said there was plenty of confidence at the Saints following its most recent results.
“Our top order is firing and our bowlers are doing really well,” he said.
“We are hitting form at the right time of the season.
“I think a lot of it comes down to form and how you play the two-day format, because it is longer you have to maintain the higher standard for longer.”
Rup-Minyip expects to have a similar line-up to its recent games, with few changes to player availability. The Saints have plenty to play for themselves too with top spot up for grabs if they can get enough points to jump ahead of Homers.
