Pirates batted well last weekend against Comboyne and bowled and fielded well the weekend before against defending premier Wauchope RSL, but doing both well in the same match has eluded them so far.

The return of a couple of older heads in Peter Colver and Simon Granfield will help the team tomorrow.

Colver will open the batting while Granfield can provide a spark with bat and ball.

"It will be great having him back," Pirates captain Ben Woodward said of Granfield.

"With a young team, it's important having some senior players around the group, and he's one of those."

While the results haven't gone Pirates' way yet, Woodward said it hadn't been for lack of trying.

"I can't fault the effort of the guys," he said.

"Everyone has given 100 per cent so far."

Woodward said success wasn't too far away. "It's feeling like things are starting to come together," he said.

"I think there are exciting things ahead."

Macquarie will provide another tough test for Pirates.

"The Macquarie boys always have a strong team," Woodward said.

"We've just got to tighten our lines a bit."

Macca will miss Gordon Scott behind the stumps. Daniel Kennedy will take the gloves.

Captain Michael Pelley said a team on a losing streak was dangerous to come up against.

"You don't want to be the ones to give them the win," he said.

"No one likes losing, and when it becomes a pattern, it's even worse.

"They're due."

Scott's experience will be missed.

"He has good leadership and he's tidy behind the stumps," Pelley said.

"But you have to play without him sometimes. That sort of thing happens around here."

Adrian Sippel will also miss the match.

Port City Leagues Magpies take on Comboyne in the other game of round three tomorrow. RSL has the bye.