CAW Hume is embracing the underdog tag ahead of its O'Farrell Cup showdown with Wagga at Robertson Oval on Sunday.
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After overcoming CAW District in tough conditions at Holbrook last weekend, the Hume side finds itself a win away from a meeting with Border heavyweights CAW Provincial.
However, the task will be made slightly tougher with the unavailability of match-winner Darcy I'Anson, who starred with bat and ball in the four-wicket victory last start.
I'Anson will be replaced by Walla all-rounder Joel Merkel.
"It's unfortunate to have Darcy out, but Joel coming in is great," CAW Hume captain Tom Simmons said.
"I had a good chat to Robbie Mackinlay about it and was tossing up between two blokes to bring in, but he thought Joel as well because he's batting well and bowling well.
"We're the underdogs. We've got that tag and it's not a bad thing to have.
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"If we play our best cricket, I think we can definitely put up a good fight.
"Ideally we'd like to play against Cricket Albury-Wodonga (Provincial). It would be a bit of a David v Goliath scenario and we know a lot of those boys.
"But we'll just worry about this one first."
Holbrook and District defeated Wagga at the end of the 2018 summer to hold the O'Farrell Cup over winter, but it will be the first time CAW Hume has met them at representative level since the recent merger of the Holbrook and Brocklesby competitions.
CAW Hume paceman Ryan Kirkwood, who now plays for The Rock-Yerong Creek, knows the Wagga side well and has been providing Simmons with plenty of intel.
"Things are looking OK, we've just got to do the right things on the day," Simmons said.
"Ed Perryman is very solid at the top of the order for us and Mark Kreutzberger as well. If those two get going, it's game on from the start."
In-form Walbundrie all-rounder Alex McMaster remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
The CAW Hume side is: Tom Simmons (captain, Walla), Mark Taylor (Walla), Joel Merkel (Walla) Mark Kreutzberger (Rand), Clint Ralston (Rand), Hamish Mackinlay (Holbrook), Todd Hannam (TRYC), Ryan Kirkwood (TRYC), Trent I'Anson (Brock-Burrum), Zac Barranchea (Brock-Burrum), Ed Perryman (Osborne) and Brad McMillan (Lockhart).
Sunday's 55-over fixture starts at 10.30am, with the final set to be played in the New Year.