When star batsman Aaron Mahony decided to stay in Europe after playing cricket in England with Western Suburbs teammate Mitch Fisher last year, most believed the Plovers were in for a long, hard summer.
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However, with three rounds to go they are just two wins from securing a place in the semi-finals for the first time since winning the 2015/16 premiership.
Coming off their second win against top side City United, Wests have Port Stephens at home followed by away games against Eastern Suburbs and reigning premiers Raymond Terrace in the final round.
“If we win two out of our last three we should make it,” Wests joint skipper Tom Irwin said this week. “I’d like to say I’m confident, I think we can do it. We’ve probably got the best of the draw going in, but there are plenty of dangers left,.
“It’s good our fate is in our own hands, but we’re not going to take them (Port Stephens) lightly as they knocked us off pretty easily last time.
”They are going really well the last couple of months. Jason Eveleigh is taking wickets by the millions, Lleyton Eveleigh is a really handy young quick.
“Without Jarred (Moxey) it is a bit harder for them, but they’ve been really doing well sharing the job around.”
Irwin said the Plovers’ confidence was high after beating City for the second time this season.
“I was over the moon. That was one of the better wins I’ve been involved with ever,” he said.
“To come back from 7/100 with Mitch (Fisher) and Joel (Connell) putting on 130. Even to come back from 2/2 off about 10 overs. Mark Copus and Damo Trappel put together a great partnership of 40 or 50.
“That was up there with one of the better bowling performances we’ve seen in ages as well.
“We held our catches, Mitchy Fisher took an absolute screamer, Keals (Luke Kealy) bowled 18 straight for four for. It was just a corker.”
Irwin said the keys to Wests success this season had been their ability to seize momentum and not let it got.
“When we get momentum we’ve been really good at grabbing it with both hands and going on and getting plenty of wickets.
“It’s probably been how we’ve surprised a few teams.
“You look at our stats across the side, they are probably not too wonderful but blokes have just done enough and we’ve been able to take wickets in big clumps and got momentum when we needed it.
“Our fate is in our own hands which is where you want to be.”
In other matches this round, Raymond Terrace hosts Norths and Thornton are at home to Kurri Weston.
