Albury looks to sneak into the top six with upset win over North

The home team is battling Tallangatta and East Albury for sixth with four games left.

All three will start outsiders in round 15 with Tallangatta away to second-placed Wodonga, while East is home to fourth-placed St Patrick's.

However, Albury clearly carries the best form of the trio, boasting six wins from its last nine games.

"Putting Kade Brown and 'Pop' (Alex Popko) back in, that was a big help I reckon, we needed some leadership," all-rounder Harry Weaven said.

"Just before Christmas we started playing some good cricket and finally got our team right."

Tallangatta holds down sixth on 39 points, followed by Albury (36) and East (30).

Teams receive six points for a win so Albury will control its destiny with an upset, providing the Bushies fall.

"If we get a win, it could nearly put us in finals really," Weaven said.

But the son of former top-line Wagga player Jason says one of the association's best bats stands in the way of posting an upset.

"I reckon 'Simmo's' (Brendan Simmons) the main danger for them," he said.

"I'd have to say he's (Simmons) the best bat in the competition.

"He always finds a way to score and stay in, he's very hard to bowl to, he hits the ball very well.

"He controls their innings when they're going bad or when they're going good."

Simmons boasts five half-centuries, along with another at T20 level.

At 50-over level, he has 425 runs at 53.

But by his lofty standards, the classy left-hander has had a quiet month.

He has scores of eight and one, while North's thumping wins over Wodonga Raiders and East have restricted him to four and 16 not out respectively.

East Albury's batting has been exposed in the past two games, largely on the back of star bat Kris Milosta losing form.

When the Crows stunned Wodonga in round 11, Milosta made 104 and he followed it with another top-scoring 41 in the win over New City.

He made 19 as the Crows posted only 146 against North and four in the total of 110 against Lavington, admittedly the best bowling attack.

Elsewhere, Raiders will have to find something at home to Lavington.

Raiders capitulated against the Panthers' pace for only 65 in round six and with another winless season (at 50-over level) likely, it could get ugly.

And Belvoir will be out to maintain its winning form when it hosts New City.

The Eagles haven't lost since December 8 against North.

They carry a six-match unbeaten streak into the game.