Last week, Port City Leagues Magpies took advantage of numerous dropped catches to set themselves up for day two in their clash with Macquarie Hotel.

Macquarie are 3-46 in reply to Leagues’ total of 204 with Mitch Quinn and Brendan Badenoch the not out batsmen.

Macquarie captain Josh Hyde remained quietly confident his side could chase the tally down.

“This will probably be the toughest test to date for us. We have our work cut out but if we do our job like we have done all year we should be right,” he said.

“We’re full strength this week after missing a few guys last week. We still have a lot of really good, core batsmen still to bat.”

Macquarie’s lack of cricket, and not batting for five weeks, has been tough according to Hyde.

“It makes this one a danger game for us. I have confidence in out ability no doubt, but the lack of game time in the middle might hurt us,” he said.

Out at Wauchope, Port Pirates first innings batting woes continued when they were rolled for 60 in 22 overs.

It was after opening bowler Paul Stait took 7-29 in Wauchope’s total of 109.

Bailey Smith provided nuisance value for Pirates and remained 37 not out at the end of their first dig, with Wauchope to resume their second innings at 0-24 .

“It’s not good for us, after struggling last week, if I’m being honest,” Pirates’ Kenny Bennett said.

“We started well and bowled them out for 108, but our batting was a big struggle for us. It’s been tough all year.

“We’ll be aiming to bowl strong, as quickly as we can, and then have a good crack in our second innings.”

Matches will be played on Saturday, with the Pirates and Wauchope to clash at Andrews Park, and Macquarie to host Port City at Wayne Richards Park. Matches start at 1pm.