A finals preview has come a week early in the final round of Horsham Cricket Association B Grade competition.
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The top four teams are all battling for a home-ground advantage on day two at the weekend.
Blackheath-Dimboola and Colts are locked in a tight tussle for the minor premiership and a home final. The two teams are all but guaranteed to play again in the first semi-final, making this round a chance to sound each other out.
Blackheath-Dimboola will start day-two at 0-2 trying to chase down Colts' first innings total of 154, and the opening partnership could be the key.
Skipper Harry Young and opening batsman Trent McGough will resume at the crease on day two. McGough is in impressive form with scores of 71 and 59 in his last two outings, upping his season average to a team-high 48.
McGough said the team was feeling positive about the pre-finals hit-out, but said Colts' bowling attack could cause some difficulty.
"Their bowling is what I see as their main strength, so it will be tough," he said. "Liam Jakobi is one of the premier bowlers in the competition; he's always hard to face. And the left-armer from the other end (Jay Couch) always gets a bit of movement."
McGough said while the minor premiership and a home ground advantage next weekend would be a rewarding honour, the chance to test themselves against one of the best sides in the competition was more valuable.
"It's always great to get the number one spot, but it's also good to be playing the top side in the last round before finals to get a challenge ahead of next week," he said.
"Home ground does matter too. It's probably one of the best surfaces and pitches in the competition so it's always good to play at Dimboola Recreation Reserve. But ultimately you just have to win two games in a row when it comes to finals."
The contest between third-placed Bullants and fourth-placed Lubeck-Murtoa will also determine who has the home-ground advantage for the elimination final next week.
Lubeck-Murtoa are chasing 170, and the in-form Graeme Reddie will be crucial. Reddie's last three scores are an astonishing 93 not out, 131 and 108.
McGough said Reddie was someone who could win the B Grade premiership off his own bat.
"If he gets going he's incredibly hard to get out," he said. "He can win games for them by himself.
"The competition is so even, all four teams could win it all on their day. It's pretty exciting."
In A Grade, Laharum are still a chance to leapfrog Rup-Minyip into fourth place, despite not having won a game since the start of January in round nine.
Laharum will need to chase down the Horsham Saints' day-one total of 234 to give them a chance. They will start day two at 1-3 after Jono Carroll claimed the wicket of opener Sean Wouters late on day one.
Rup-Minyip however could put themselves out of reach by chasing down Homers' day one total of 212. Rup-Minyip have all day to play sensible cricket when they resume at 1-25.
West Wimmera meanwhile will try to hold on for their first ever two-day win in A Grade, after they made 311 on day one against Jung Tigers.