Wagga City coach Jon Nicoll will miss this weekend’s must-win match against Lake Albert due to a representative fixture.
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The Cats will face the premiers at McPherson Oval, with the winner guaranteed a place in the finals.
Both teams are locked on 20 points, with fifth-placed Kooringal Colts breathing down their necks.
The Colts are only two points behind and will face last-placed Wagga RSL.
Nicoll will take part in a NSW Country clash with a team from Christchurch at Bradman Oval in Bowral.
He scored a century during the Country Championships campaign last month and thought it was another opportunity that couldn’t be missed.
“It couldn’t have fallen at a worse time really but you can’t pass these opportunities up,” Nicoll said.
“These are games that when you stop playing you remember you played in.
“I can’t turn this opportunity down and it’s a shame it’s fallen on the most important round of the year.”
Wagga City are coming off a loss to South Wagga and being without Nicoll, the competition’s leading runscorer and wicket taker, will be a huge blow.
However he remains confident others can step into his boots.
“I missed a one-dayer before Christmas which we lost but I think previous three or four I’ve missed we’ve won so we've been pretty good when I haven’t been there,” Nicoll said.