ALL Nichols Point really want for Christmas is a two-game gap on their closest rivals.
The undefeated Sunraysia Cricket Association ladder leaders will end the year with their toughest test yet, facing defending premiers Gol Gol at Alcheringa Oval.
The Pointers have been flying this campaign and a victory over one of the toughest teams in the competition would sound a warning to the other six teams.
Gol Gol, meanwhile, have lost just one game for the year but want to avoid slipping further behind in the chase for top spot.
The result is a tasty one-day encounter that has the potential to be a run-fest.
“We all know it’s going to be tough contest, especially on their home deck, but we can only serve up our best and hopefully that will be enough for us,” Nichols Point coach Luke Coates said.
“They’re a very well-rounded side. Obviously, they have great batters and they bat deep and are a good bowling unit, they’re also really good fielders.
“Hopefully for us, it’s not a high-scoring game but whatever happens, I reckon it’s going to be pretty close.”
Gol Gol skipper Adam Thomson also believes the result will be tight.
“Arguably our teams have the best two batting line-ups in the competition, which is probably why we’ve both started well,” he said.
“Their top-end talent is up there with the best in the competition. Shauny Mathews is having another brilliant season after spending his winter in England, Shannon Bowen is a gun and I think adding Riley Jobson into their mix has been pretty beneficial.
“Being a one-dayer at Golly where the outfield is pretty fast outfield and the scores are usually pretty high, it could be a tough day for bowlers from both sides.”
Coates said the confidence among the playing group is high after qualifying for their maiden first-division finals series last season.
He believes it has been a benefit to the entire club, not just the senior side.
“I think us making finals for the first time last season really helped build that belief that we can do it and we’re on the right track,” he said.
“That’s not just among the playing group but the whole club as well. I think it’s helped our confidence utilising the juniors coming through the system plus guys we have brought in to help as well.
“It’s good to see different people performing each week, everyone has been playing their role and picking up their game when they’ve had to.”
Gol Gol are set to regain pace bowler Luke Hickey following his recovery from hip surgery, while Zac Tankard is likely to return to first division in the new year after a shoulder injury.
“If we lose, we’ll obviously be two wins behind which pulls us back into the pack a bit more, so to get a win here would be really important,” Thomson said.
The contest begins at 1pm at Alcheringa Oval.
