ZAC GUILFOYLE

THE rivalry might not be as intense as the football, but Wangaratta Magpies are desperate to put one over rivals Rovers United.

And Magpies captain Zac Guilfoyle believes anything can happen when it comes down to a one-off Twenty20 game.

“It’s as hungry as we’ve been,” Guilfoyle said.

“We haven’t won a game since round 2 and I know our guys are really excited to get out there and have a real crack.

“We’re both young teams but in the past they’ve had the wood over us.

“We missed out two weeks ago with the rain, we didn’t play to our best last week.

“Our guys are still excited for the cricket but we need to start turning that into wins.”

And this will be the perfect opportunity — for either team — to take much needed points.

But Guilfoyle said the Magpies would have to be wary.

“Without sounding cocky we would definitely look at this as one we want to win,” he said.

“But I’ve said before this competition has dished up some bizarre results, so you have to be on your game or you can be caught out and will be found wanting.”

Particularly with a T20, it’s anyone’s game.

“It’s a strange format,” Guilfoyle said.

“It’s quite bizarre playing a one-off game for premiership points — but it is what it is and you have to knuckle down, adapt to the format and do the best you can to hopefully get a win.

“It is a hard game especially for the kids, they work so hard in their development of their techniques and then you say you have to throw that out the window and have a swing.”

But even T20s need a steady head.

“Hopefully we don’t get wrapped up in the music and the festivities and get caught out not concentrating,” Guilfoyle said.

“It’s still a matter of getting bat on ball and trying to keep your wicket, and the side that bats best will win this game.

“We want to make sure we’re not losing wickets and try to hit along the ground as best we can, if you play a bad shot in a T20 it has the same consequences as a one-day or two-day game.

“You still have to put value on your wicket.”

One youngster with a high value on his wicket is 16-year-old Brad Melville, who made a century for the North East Knights this week.

“He’s a naturally gifted cricketer who can play an attacking role for us,” Guilfoyle said.

“If he can knuckle down and put value on his wicket, I’ll look to him to steer the ship and set the tone for us.”