LONGFORD is the only team assured of maintaining its spot on the ladder heading into the final roster round of the TCL's premier league.
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Third-placed Hadspen is all that stands between the three-time reigning premier and an unbeaten 40-over campaign in what will be the two sides' first longer-form clash of the season.
Country Tigers boss Josh Adams, who scored his first ton of the season last weekend after opening the batting, said the fixture couldn't have come at a better time as his side warms up for finals.
The left-hander may return to the middle order this week but was glad for an extended stay at the crease.
"It was good to find a bit of form and spend a bit of time in the middle," Adams said.
"I’m not too sure at this stage (if I’ll stay there), I think anyone in our top six can bat wherever so it's good to have a flexible batting line-up.
"Jackson Blair will return which is handy for us so he’ll come in and open the batting."
LEGANA will need to upset finals hopeful ACL to keep its spot in the premier league, with relegation awaiting should the Durhams stumble or Beauty Point upset top-two-bound Trevallyn.
Geoff Stick's side enjoyed its best performance of the season against the Point last round, bolting to a 162-run win to keep its top-flight dream alive.
"That’s the damage we’ve been expecting to do all year but it’s taken us all season to actually click," Stick said.
"Early on I expected us to compete with the better teams because we did have quite a strong batting and bowling line-up, but we just hadn’t all gelled and worked together on the one day."
Aaron Dusautoy starred in the win, netting 42 runs, five wickets and a run-out.
"He’s a very talented kid - I played a lot of cricket with him at Riverside over the years and it all came together for him," Stick said.
The Bluebacks also desperately need the four points to stay in the running for fourth spot.
John Kedey's side has it all to do after a seven-run loss to Cressy last round, but will be boosted by Shaun Woods and the long-awaited return of Deepak Singh.
"We were really disappointed with how we went last week, we know we let an opportunity slip big time for this season but we’ve got to move forward," Kedey said.
"It could possibly be our last game of the year but we’re still a chance of finals if results go our way."
A win or even a close loss at Perth should be enough to see CRESSY through to finals, but only the former will be satisfactory for coach Damian Whybrow.
The Demons remain a mathematical chance of making finals but have not won since round nine, while the Bulldogs again looked iffy with the bat against ACL.
"We fielded very well and caught very well so that was a big bonus, but we’re still struggling with the bat big time so hopefully we can put some partnerships together against Perth," Whybrow said.
"Our best cricket when we’re all playing 100 per cent is unbeatable really."
TREVALLYN can lock in a second chance when it travels to Beauty Point after winning from a last-wicket stand of 20-plus for the second time in five weeks.
"It’s happened twice this year," skipper James Whiteley said.
"We’ve just found ways to win games which is usually the mark of a good team, so I’m pretty happy with how things are coming together at the moment and we’re having fun while we’re playing."
ROUND 14
- Saturday, 11am: Perth v Cressy (Perth)
- ACL v Legana (University Oval)
- Beauty Point v Trevallyn (Beauty Point)
- Saturday, noon: Longford v Hadspen (Cressy)