The first hour of play in Saturday's day two of round 12 could decide the finals hopes of at least one club and probably two for the 2018-19 Maitland first grade cricket season.
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A solid start by Western Suburbs batsman Mitchell Fisher and Luke Knight could be enough to close the door on Port Stephens' hopes of making the finals with the Plovers needing 61 runs to gain first innings points.
Fisher is coming off 88 in a 100-plus partnership with Joel Connell (63) in Wests win last round against City. Connell missed day one of the match but will be available this week.
The danger, however, for Wests comes from Port's evergreen spinner Jason Eveleigh who has four bags of five wickets so far this season.
At Robins Oval, Early wickets by City United's bowling attack would also put pressure on Eastern Suburbs who must win their final three games to be even a remote chance of making the finals.
Easts will be looking to skipper Jack Bennett to make a big score after taking five wickets last week.
His co-captain Trent Park will also need runs and big-hitting Josh Hicks could throw doubts into the City's inexperienced bowling line-up with one of his swashbuckling innings.
City are favourites after posing 9/272 but the pressure in many ways is off Easts and they have shown marked improvement in the second-half of the season as a team.
City will be without experienced bowling duo Michael Heinrich and Tim Baker, but City skipper Josh Trappel has faith young bowlers Cameron Wynn and Jordan Murphy can play meet the challenge and play their role in dismissing Easts on Saturday.
“It’s a really good opportunity for the two boys,” Trappel said.
"We've still got Tim Burton, our leading wicket-taker Nick Bower and Josh (Trappel) to call on so I'm confident we can get the job done.":
Tipping the outcome of any game involving Kurri Weston is fraught with danger, particularly this season, but form side of the competition Thornton should get the 36 runs they need to secure first innings points quickly and be in a position to push for an outright.
Sitting level on points at the top of the table with City United, an outright win would potentially give Thornton a break on City with Thunder's next game away to Port Stephens before they host City in the final round.
City host Northern Suburbs next week. It's been a tough run home for Norths with four games against top four teams to close out the season.
Norths skipper Mike Wilson is happy going into day two with 305 on the board inspired by 160 off just 148 balls by Lincoln Mills. “It’s a very good score, but Raymond Terrace have a good batting line up," he said.