LONGFORD will have to overcome the loss of three key batsmen to win its TCL A-grade qualifying final clash against Trevallyn tomorrow.
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The Tigers will be without Anthony Taylor and Ashley Holloway with Ben Dodd under an injury cloud for the top-of-the table match-up that has a grand final spot on offer for the winner.
Trevallyn will be at full strength and will enjoy the home ground advantage courtesy of finishing on top of the ladder.
Longford has beaten Trevallyn twice during the roster season but captain-coach Stuart Prewer knows that finals are a different ball game and past results count for little.
"They were off the boil both times we played them and they'll be hard to beat and are obviously starting to peak at the right time after making 290 last week," he said.
"We know when we play Trevallyn at Trevallyn we have to play 80 overs of good cricket to beat them.
"We're missing three but all year we have had a squad of 14 or 15 A-grade players that we've rotated through the team.
"Dean Stephens has come into the side and made 76 last week and hopefully can help cover batting-wise for Ant and Ashley who are away."
Prewer has the luxury of welcoming back two quality players in Aiden Hume and Scott Graham to help cover their losses.
TREVALLYN captain-coach Damian Whybrow claimed underdog status for his side and said its batting would have to fire for it to win.
"It's a big game for us - Longford is a good side and have been in pretty good form for the past two or three months," he said.
"We've been flogged both times we played them.
"Our batting let us down in both games. "Finishing on top doesn't mean anything as we've seen in the past two years."
Trevallyn will have a full strength side and should be unchanged.
BEAUTY POINT hosts Legana in the elimination final at Beauty Point in what should be another close contest.
LEGANA captain Matthew Wells said it was a tough road trip to make especially for a final but the Durhams had enjoyed success on the ground before and he was confident of a victory.
"They're a really good side who play their home ground well but we enjoy playing down there and have had some wins over the years," he said.
"I think it will be a really close game - they've got a couple of good players in Jason Savage and Rob Eltringham and a lot of good support around them so we will have to be at our best.
"But in saying that we've been playing probably our best cricket of the season and it's good form to take into the finals."
Wells regains opener Gary McCarron with Bobby Streets the unlucky one to miss out.
Beauty Point captain Jason Savage was confident his side could win at home.
Savage has a full squad available but said it would have to watch Legana's experienced players.
"Wells bowls well and they've got Champion who made a hundred last year in the finals and Gary McCarron at the top - if we can restrict those sort of players we should be right."