Clashes between Northern and Western Suburbs are always fierce affairs with plenty at stake.
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Two of the power teams of the past decade they resume their fierce rivalry on Saturday aware that victory will be crucial in the context of finals.
Victory for Norths keeps them at the top of the table with Raymond Terrace, a win for Wests cements them in the top four.
“It should be a really good game,” Norths skipper Michael Wilson said.
“Any team with Aaron Mahony and also Tom Irwin, who is hitting them pretty well as well, poses dangers.
“They are two key wickets to get but with our bowling attack, the stocks we have, I’m very confident that we can hold our own against even the best batting line-ups in the competition.
“We’re certainly not taking them for granted, but certainly very confident that we can get the job done and back on top beside Raymond Terrace.”
Norths are coming off a two-week bye and will name the same team, with the exception of Terry Humphreys, that beat Eastern Suburbs.
“We’re pretty confident in our selections if people are doing the job then they are pretty safe in the team,” Wilson said.
“We haven’t lost a game in the regular competition since earlier in the year.”
Norths bat deep and the versatility, quality and depth of their bowling attack gives Wilson plenty of options.
“Will Fort bowled a lot of overs in the last game, obviously Lincoln (Mills) bowls a lot of overs.
“Luke Stewart keeps wicket. I don’t bowl a lot of overs, but Callum Gabriel batting at No.5 gets plenty of overs. Logan Smith is a very capable bowler and then we go into the all-rounders with Cael Smith, Jordan Callinan, Rex Greaves and Ben Sayers we’ve certainly got plenty of bowling options.”
Norths have plenty of pace options, but it is Callinan, with his accurate spin who tops the competition wicket aggregate.
“He is a very underrated bowler, but not only does he take wickets he keeps the run rate down,” Wilson said
“He is very accurate in what he does and obviously for batsmen to score against him they’ve got to take a risk. If you get it wrong you’re out.”
In other games, Easts play Kurri and Thornton meets Raymond Terrace keen to gain revenge for their loss in the HVC Twenty20 competition grand final.