Western Suburbs skipper Tom Irwin says claiming the minor premiership would be a nice bonus but his side's main focus is on claiming the main prize.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Plovers take a 108-run lead into day two of their clash against Eastern Suburbs, resuming on 7/167 and Irwin on 81 at King Edward Park on Saturday.
An outright result would give Wests a three-point break on top-two rivals City United with one round left in the regular season, but Irwin said the major focus was to win and maintain form and momentum going into the finals.
Wests defeated City United to win the 2015-16 premiership and Norths to take out the 2011-12 title, but didn't win the minor premiership in either year.
"It would be huge to win the minor premiership. We've obviously won two premierships in the last 10 years, but no minor premierships in that time and we actually think it could go back a few decades since we won a minor premiership," Irwin said.
"It would be massive for the club and I think a good reward for this bunch of blokes and how we have gone about the season.
"But you'd trade in 10 minor premierships for one major."
Irwin said Wests' batting had been a strength all year, but opening bowling pair Luke Kealy (5-26) and Elliot Lewis (4-32) were outstanding as Easts were bundled out for 59.
"It was a really weird day of cricket to be honest, the wicket was doing plenty and we were just so happy with how we bowled," Irwin said.
"It was easily one of the best bowling performances from two opening bowlers that I've ever seen.
It was easily one of the best bowling performances from two opening bowlers that I've ever seen.
- Tom Irwin
"We held our catches and fielded pretty well. It was nice to bowl them out for a low total like that, it really was.
"We think our batting has been reasonably solid this year, we bat all the way down to 11 which is our strength.
"There's generally been a few blokes each week putting their hand up and the good thing is that it's been different blokes putting their hand up all year.
"Aaron Mahony comes back into the team this week. He replaces Luke Knight and he is still yet to bat so that's a big in for us.
"We'll look to build a total and bowl Easts out - it's pretty simple, we've just got to do it."
After not previously making a century in first grade cricket, Irwin is on the verge of scoring his third this season.
"Getting past three figures had been my goal for the last few years rather than just getting 50s," he said.
"So it's been nice to get a couple of hundreds. I feel like I'm hitting the ball pretty well and I think I'm starting to get a bit older and knowing my game better . . . about how to build an innings rather than going too hard too early."
Irwin said the other bonus of finishing top would be to miss form side Norths in the semi-finals.
"But whether it is Easts or Kurri Weston who makes fourth, it will still be a very tough game," Irwin said.
"If you get Easts on their day and Parky (Trent Park) goes off and hits 200 then it's not much better than playing Norths."
In other games Norths are on top of Kurri Weston, City play Raymond Terrace and Tenambit Morpeth are hosting Thornton.