Wagga City have no better opportunity to bounce back from a shock loss than in the battle for the Wagga Cricket minor premiership.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Cats had only lost once all season before coming unstuck against Lake Albert last week.
Captain Josh Thompson hopes the five-wicket loss will be a wake up call for the minor premiers with finals in a fortnight.
"It was bitter to swallow but it was definitely the tune up we needed," Thompson said.
"We tried quite a few things including giving a few blokes a go at the top of the order and it probably wasn't the best choice as Lake played the best cricket they have all year.
"They capitalised on it as they've played a lot of young people this year, which is good to see.
"We needed that wake up call to get back into the swing of things and face the top side this week.
"We have to bounce back."
Thompson believes taking on South Wagga, who went around them and into top spot after their comprehensive win over Wagga RSL, at Robertson Oval on Saturday is the perfect challenge for the side.
Especially with just two points separating the two clubs on top of the ladder.
"It is going to be a good battle and going forward there is going to be plenty more of them," Thompson said.
"It would be nice to get off to a good start this weekend to get in front of them early."
Wagga City will be buoyed by the return of Ben Turner at the top of the innings.
He's helped the Cats get off to plenty of strong starts this season but was missing last week.
Thompson didn't rule out more changes to their line up.
"Ritchie (Turner) will straight back in and straight back to opener but I'm not sure who with," he said.
However Thompson is expected to bat higher after dropping down to seven after a bout of food poisoning.
He still managed to top score for the Cats, making 39 as the side was bowled out for 127 by the team on the bottom of the ladder.
Wagga City are the only side to get the better of South Wagga in the one-day format this season.
Thompson hopes to see the side play if more intent if they are to repeat the dose.
"I think we've lost our intent and maybe Twenty20 has changed that," he said.
"I'm not too sure as I don't think we played that well in the T20 games, even though we still ended up winning.
"We had a lot of intent in the one-day games leading into the T20s and it is like we've gone back into our shells.'
"On the weekend especially no one was prepared to take the game on and be the person to get us going so we will have to see what happens this weekend."
Wagga City then tackles St Michaels on Sunday.