With just three rounds to go his team is still in with a shot at playing finals cricket, but the coach has dismissed that mindset ahead of today’s must-win game against fellow finals hopeful Belvoir.

Hayes wants to know what has happened to the team that promised so much early in the season.

Albury has been “smashed” in its past three games.

Last week it was bowled out for 131 against St Patrick’s and prior to Christmas couldn’t get past 150 against either East Albury or North Albury.

“Finals are just about the last thing on my mind,” Hayes said.

“Mathematically we can make it, but even if we were to get a couple of wins and make finals it would be only wallpapering over the cracks.

“Everyone looks at our side on paper and says it’s full of potential.

“Well potential doesn’t get you into finals cricket, results do and ours have been shocking in the last three games.”

Hayes said different approaches had failed to put his team in the right frame of mind.

“We have a great club — if there was a ladder for the best social club, best development for juniors we’d be on top,” he said.

“But in this competition you have to come ready to play — it is a high standard of cricket where the best work at their game on and off the field, at the weekend and during the week.

“You simply can’t afford to lack focus.

“As a team, perhaps as a club, we need to look at ourselves and see whether we are doing the right thing by ourselves and by our teammates.

“I’ve signed up for another year but I have to look in the mirror too and work out whether I’m the right fit for the job.”

Hayes has no doubt his squad has the ability to play finals cricket.

“We have some outstanding cricketers,” he said.

“Kade Brown is the leading runscorer in the competition, while Nick Morris and Grant Wells have also scored hundreds.

“We were lucky enough to pick up Liam Hocking from Raiders midway through the season and he is a real talent both with the bat and the ball.

“I don’t know what the answer is, I just know we have to change for our own sake.”