GOL Gol will start strong favourites in their SCA semi-final against Mildura West, but neither side is taking their position for granted.
The minor premiers recovered from a 1-2 start to the season to win 10 consecutive matches leading into finals, boasting one of the deepest squads in the competition.
As an added bonus, gun all-rounder and reigning Innes medal winner Shacaya Thomas is set to return following a calf injury which kept him out of the final two matches of the home and away season.
Mildura West meanwhile have little to lose after finishing in fourth place, and good form since Christmas has given them confidence to take on the league heavyweights.
Alongside Thomas, Wade Hancock and captain-coach Adam Thomson have been outstanding with the bat, spinner Than Rajapakse has been impressive, and young all-rounders Kain Berryman and Jayden Brooks have shown plenty.
Jasper Presswell has been nothing short of outstanding for West with a competition-best 39 wickets but has also been handy with the bat, while captain-coach Chris Williams is a proven performer with bat and ball, and young gun Josh Driscoll has hit great form, while Brandon Dixon and Greg Lewis know how to make runs.
Gol Gol skipper Thomson said his side are happy with how they turned their start into a home ground semi-final.
“We had nine blokes make their Gol Gol debut in first division through the year so to still be in this position is a positive for how well the guys performed,” he said.
“We’ve had the likes of Riley Moore and Cooper McDowell who are both bottom-age under-16s who came in and performed well, and guys like Kain Berryman and Jayden Brooks have stood up.
“In saying that, we’ve still got multiple guys in the team who were there for the premiership two years ago so we have experience at this stage of the season.”
Thomson knows his side will have a fight on their hands against West.
“They’ll be tough. Jasper especially has been brilliant with the ball, being the leading wicket taker in the SCA and during country week so he’s performed really well,” he said.
“I think they held us to 230 in the last two-dayer so we know it will be tough work and we’ll have to be patient with the bat and pick our moments.”
Williams said his side won’t take their finals berth for granted.
“Through the season we got here through hard work and enjoyment, and we also know where we need to improve if we are to make it through to the grand final,” he said.
“For us to be successful we need input from all 11 players out there and we know it’s going to take a lot of hard work to get past Gol Gol.
“We want to be peaking at the right time of year, and essentially we’re undefeated since January 18 so it’s been great to get some form together.
“To win flags you need to beat the best, and not just enjoy it but embrace it as well.
“We know it will be a challenge and we will respect them but we don’t want to let them dictate how we approach the game.”
Gol Gol face Mildura West at Alcheringa Oval from 1pm on Saturday and Sunday.
