MACQUARIE Hotel captain Michael Pelley is expecting a tight battle when the team comes up against Port Panthers Pirates in the first-grade preliminary final this weekend.
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Just the one two-day match was played between the two sides this season, and that was washed out while the game was on a knife's edge.
Macquarie scored 106 and the Pirates were 7-89 when the match was called off.
"It would have been a really good finish," Pelley said.
"The sides were pretty even. There wouldn't have been a whole lot between them."
Pelley is expecting to win a close encounter this weekend. His team has plenty of big-game experience which should see it through.
The likes of fast bowler Brendan Badenoch and all-rounder Ricky Arnell have played in plenty of semi finals. Wicketkeeper Gordon Scott has also been there before.
Then there are the Hyde brothers, Josh and Ethan.
"There's plenty of stability there," Pelley said.
While the two teams are prepared for a close first innings result, an outright which might not reflect the neck-and-neck nature of the contest could be on the cards, according to Pelley.
"You often find these things ending in an outright," he said.
He put that down to the loser of the first innings chasing some quick runs in the second dig in an effort to turn the match around.
"It's not necessarily reflective of the first-innings score," Pelley said.
"Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn't."
Ten extra overs are added on for the finals, making for a 90 over match.
"It can be a different game, backing up and starting at 11am on Sunday," Pelley said.
The draw
First grade: Port Panthers Pirates v Macquarie Hotel @ Laurieton Oval
Second grade: Port City Leagues Magpies v Wauchope RSL Blue @ Wayne Richards Turf
Third grade: Port City Leagues Magpies v Port Panthers Pirates Mutineers @ Woods Street 1
Fourth grade: Port City Leagues Magpies v Macquarie Hotel @ Woods Street 2