WET weather could be an unlikely ally for Cricket Albury-Wodonga when the competition tries to charge to successive SCG Cup finals this weekend.
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CAW will travel up the NSW coast to Jamberoo as one of just eight sides left in the competition.
They take on Tamworth in Saturday’s qualifying final, with the winner to play either Lake Illawarra or Corrimal in Sunday’s semi-final.
With scattered showers predicted, play could be interrupted.
However, as the competition’s second-ranked side after last year’s fairytale run to the final, CAW would progress should a result not be achieved.
“It’s good we don’t have to worry about that,” CAW coach Trent Ball said.
“We can make our own luck.
“We got a really good draw and now we’re just two wins away from getting to the final again.”
Similar to last year, the timing of these finals around Christmas has left CAW without a full-strength squad.
“It’s been hard work getting everyone on board because everyone has family stuff, work and all that,” Ball said.
“We’ve got a couple of changes from last Sunday but we were keen to keep the team together.
“Those boys got the win, so they deserve to play.”
Andrew Lade and Cameron White are both unavailable, with Ball and captain James McNeil two more than handy inclusions.
Byron Hales also comes into the side, with Mitch O’Brien the other play to come out of the team that defeated Wagga last round.
It was hoped that prized East Albury recruit Gurjit Sandhu would be available to represent CAW this weekend, but the Crows’ speedster will travel to Perth over the Christmas break.
Ball, who made 58 for Wodonga against Sandhu on the weekend, said he was impressed by the competition’s newest star.
“He’s going to destroy some sides this season,” he said.
THE SQUAD: Trent Ball (coach), James McNeil (captain), Ash Borella, Nat Sariman, James Tonkin, Steve Wood, Mat Armstrong, Brendan Simmons, Paul Connolly, Ashan Ranaweera, Byron Hales, Ryan Brown.
