Wagga City captain Josh Thompson is desperate for his team to have a winning start to the new year.
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The Cats are in fourth place have little breathing room in a compressed Wagga cricket ladder.
St Michaels are currently last, but only six points separates the two teams heading into the second day of the clash at McPherson Oval.
Six points are up for grabs on Saturday and Thompson is determined to chase down the 263 required for victory.
“We definitely need to win this one,” Thompson said.
“If we don’t win this one we may struggle for the rest of the year.
“It is really important we put it together on Saturday.
“It is going to be very hot out in the field for the St Micks boys so the longer we keep them out there and the deeper we bat into the overs the easier it is going to be.
After a couple of early wickets, Tom Byrnes (90) and Michael Mitchell (74) put on 148 for the third wicket partnership to set up a big total for the winless side.
Thompson admitted the Cats have a big task ahead after his plan to send the Saints in last week didn’t come off.
“Winning the toss last week the covers come off and with a wet pitch we thought we could take a few more wickets early,” he said.
“We did take a few wickets then it kinda held up on.
“Luck didn’t go our way, but those things happen and we live and forget.
“They ended up batting pretty well, made a good 260 but I think we have enough players to get the job done.”
Thompson wants to ensure the Cats have plenty of wickets in hand if they are going to chase down the total.
“We can’t go out there with a mentality that we are going to slog our way there,” he said.
“It is going to be a hard-fought battle and we have to work for every run we get and bat the full 80 overs to get them. It will be a good challenge.”
The Cats will be buoyed by the return of coach Jon Nicoll.
Nicoll missed Saturday’s play due to his commitments at the Australian Country Championships.
Thompson is looking forward to having Nicoll back.
“Obviously it helps to have Jono back,” he said.
“He is a class player.
“We probably missed him with the ball last week, and just needed that extra medium pacer, but it is really good to have him back in the side and he will do a big role for us.”
