The talented all-rounder returned to the Blues this season after a year off and was among the side’s best in last week’s 16-run loss to Wagga City, snaring 1-12 from four overs before belting a handy 25 runs from 19 deliveries during the chase.

Sykes’ performance was a step up from his showing in South Wagga’s opening-round win over Kooringal and his skills will be sorely missed against a red-hot Lake Albert side chasing their third consecutive win.

“We’ll have a couple of guys in and out this weekend with Sykesy being unavailable, but we should be getting Luke Gerhard and Louis Orr back,” Blues skipper Joel Robinson said.

Gerhard missed last week’s loss after playing a key role with the bat in round one and his return will help shore up South Wagga’s top order in Sykes’ absence.

It’s an area Robinson is hoping to improve on against the Bulls.

“I guess myself, Brayden (Ambler) and (Jeremy) Rowe all missed out with the bat against Wagga City, so it’d be good to see one or two of our boys get in and get set.”

“I think that was really the difference last week because Wagga City had two 50-run partnerships and we didn’t have any.

“It makes the job a lot easier when you’ve got blokes spending time together out in the middle and giving us a better platform to go from rather than losing wickets quickly and having players going in and out.”

Robinson was nevertheless pleased with his side’s overall performance last week and remains confident ahead of a bumper clash with Kurt Robertson’s men.

“There’s a couple of things we didn’t get right during that game but it’s all good at our end.”

“There’s not much you can do when someone takes a hat-trick and picks up a five-for against you.

“Yeah, I think we probably could’ve finished a little better with the bat but I was happy with how we bowled and fielded.

“We’re probably chasing a more rounded game against Lake Albert and they’re a side that has a pretty well-rounded list.

“At the end of the day, though, I think we’ve got a well-rounded side as well and it’s just about getting the basics and the little things right on the day.”

South Wagga and Lake Albert haven’t met in any format since the Bulls clinched a rain-affected grand final victory at Robertson Oval back in March. 

The two sides get underway at Rawlings Park at 12.30pn on Saturday. 

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