Chasing ACT Aces' 4-151, the Sloggers got off to a horror start with the bat at Philip Oval on Sunday.

Not only did they lose Albury import Ash Borella (0) in the first over, but soon slumped to 5-33 with captain Josh Thompson run out and Rikki Bovey (13) and Ethan Bartlett (12) only briefly staying at the crease.

However the Wagga City wicketkeeper added plenty of respectability to their scorecard, and gave their chances of qualifying to play at the SCG some life support.

Walker finished unbeaten on 48, off 44 balls, in the 29-run loss.

Thompson was impressed with how Walker and Jack Carey (24) responded to a hard situation.

"They are a quality team the ACT and it wasn't ideal to lose that many wickets early but Blakey and Jack Carey were rocks," Thompson said.

"In cricket sometimes not everything goes your way but to see them bat like they did through the middle overs was a real boost to the morale of the day."

READ MORE

Things started positively for the Sloggers with two wickets in the first three overs, however former Wagga cricketer Josh Staines (41) and Aces captain Daniel Leerdam soon turned the game on its head.

The pair put on a 102-run partnership before Staines was adjudged lbw trying to reverse sweep Sam Perry.

It was one of two wickets for the Wagga RSL captain-coach.

The Sloggers will need to respond in their double header on the border next week.

They will tackle both Border Bullets and Murrumbidgee Rangers with the side with the best record between the four sides to progress to the semi-finals at NSW's premier ground.

The Bullets took a seven-wicket win over Rangers on Sunday.

With a few changes on the horizon, Thompson hopes the side can respond.

"We get boosted with Hamish Starr and Jake Scott to come back in but we do lose Blake Walker," he said.