St Michaels went past Wagga City on the ladder after last round but with only 195 on the board against the Cats have the upper hand heading into the second day of the clash at Robertson Oval.

Captain Beck Frostick knows his team must strike early to maintain their top-two place.

"It's important we get a couple of quick wickets but we know the main batters and if we can get them out then we have a good chance," Frostick said.

"If we get Thommo and Nicoll (Josh Thompson and Jon Nicoll) out in the first 10 overs we are a massive chance for the rest of the day but they can bat all the way down to 11.

"It is all up to us and if we want to win we have to put in the hard yards."

Dave Garness has been in stellar form with the bat this season, leading the competition's wicket takers through the majority of the first eight rounds.

He's taken 20 wickets at an average of 9.80 so far, four more than South Wagga's Alex Smeeth and eight better than anyone else in the competition.

The paceman will be a key as Saints look to counter the competition's leading runscorer Jon Nicoll.

St Michaels struggled to 195 last week with only three batsmen making it to double figures.

Frostick made 21 before his dismissal triggered a collapse.

Saints lost 4-14 in the middle of their innings before Stuart Slocombe (60) and Nick Fahey (54 not out) combined for a crucial 54-run partnership.

Frostick believes their resilience is one of the reasons why the team has improved this season.

"It was very pleasing from Nick Fahey and Stu Slocombe, especially from last year," he said. "Last year in those situations we would have been bowled out for 120 so to get a competitive total of 195 from the position we were in was pleasing to watch on the sidelines."

However he's not sure it is enough.

"We wanted to get a lot more so that wasn't pleasing but that's cricket at the end of the day," Frostick said.

Coach Justin Ward comes back into the side for the second of the clash.

Wagga City resumes at 0-3.

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