Kooringal Colts could be without linchpin David Bolton for the first half of their crucial clash with St Michaels on Saturday.
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Bolton is having wisdom teeth removed this week and is in doubt for the clash.
A place in the finals is up for grabs with the winner going through and the loser missing out.
The timing couldn't be worse for the Colts but captain Keenan Hanigan expects the competition's leading runscorer will take his place at Harris Park.
"He'll play," Hanigan said.
"We will see how he pulls up but he will play."
While far from the ideal timing, it is something Colts have been preparing for.
"He has had this booked for a while but is going to see how he pulls up on Saturday morning," Hanigan said.
"He's pretty confident he will be right."
A fit Bolton will be a massive boost for their chances for keeping their season alive.
He's led from the front this season with two centuries and five half centuries so far scoring 663 at an average of 51.
Regardless of whether the opening batsman is fit to play or not, Hanigan wants his side to improve coming off a loss to South Wagga.
After being bowled out for 165 by the Blues, Kooringal slipped to a five-wicket loss to make it three straight defeats.
"Obviously it is a massive boost but we have no choice - we have to win the game with or without him," Hanigan said. "At the end of the day there is no next game for us it is do or die for us and the same for St Michaels.
"They will be coming out firing as well."
Hanigan is looking for all round improvement.
They were short with the bat before fielding them let them down trying to defend the total.
"It was very disappointing last week," Hanigan said.
"If we took a couple of early wickets we thought we might have been half a chance but we dropped a couple of catches and things just didn't go our way.
"Full credit to Rowey (Jeremy Rowe) and Terry (Willis), they batted really well and we just didn't have enough runs on the board at the end of the day."
The two sides both come into the clash on 19 points.
A draw would be enjoy for St Michaels to progress but a victory would not only be a boost in confidence but third place is also up for grabs with Lake Albert just three points ahead and up against leaders Wagga City.
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