The left-arm quick has only played four matches this year, the last in round 6, and has claimed 10 wickets at 15.6 in his fleeting stints at the crease.

Raiders coach Tim Weilandt said Beard’s inclusion, at the expense of Nathan Healey, would strengthen the side.

“Josh has been unavailable for a lot of the season through work commitments, so we’re happy he’s been able to commit,” he said yesterday.

“Nathan’ s a bit unlucky — he hasn’t done much wrong and he’s not out of the picture if we make it through to next week.

“But Josh is a quality bowler and a very handy batsman, and he’ll give us an extra pace bowler which we think we needed.”

Something else the Raiders need is some runs from its batsmen after mustering just 93 and 9-104 last weekend to scrape past Barnawartha-Chiltern.

Weilandt said his team had underachieved with the bat all year, and needed to step up.

“I’m still not happy with our batting — we’ve still got a lot of improving left in us,” he said.

“We have to put it together this weekend — our aim is to bat 80 overs and put some pressure on Mount Beauty.

“We’re one win away from the grand final and we just have to perform with the bat.”

Meanwhile, New City and Kiewa will take contrasting form into their semi-final clash at Urana Road Oval.

New City was the only team to record a comfortable win last week, smashing Howlong by 200 runs, displaying its impressive batting depth by recovering from 4-15 to post 9-302.

In contrast, Kiewa squandered a golden opportunity at home against Mount Beauty, with the Power’s last-wicket pair of Stuart Cariss and Shannon Carter combining for a 41-run stand to lead their team to a one-wicket victory.

The loss means Kiewa has been forced into taking on minor premiers New City, with much of the Hawks’ hopes resting on the shoulders of Ash Sutherland, Zac Simmonds and Graeme Martin.