BOTH West Gambier and North Sportsman’s will have points to prove when they don their whites in Round 4 of Mount Gambier and District cricket.
It is the first two-day match of the Barber Shield season and players will have to adjust to the longer format as they take to Malseed Park over the two Saturdays.
The Roos will have the home-ground advantage and will want to put that to good use.
They have been confident with the ball in the early stages of the season, but have been let down at the crease in recent weeks.
They bounced back for a solid victory over Mil Lel last round, but will want to prove themselves against the 2017 runners-up.
Last week saw the premiership table turned on its head, with Penola claiming the top spot, while South Gambier holds onto second position.
West currently sits one place ahead of the Tigers in third, but the result from this round will re-shuffle the order again.
Back in Round 2 West had a batting performance it would like to forget against Penola and will need to step up to a new level if it is to compete with the top-order teams.
Last week Bray Stephenson (27), co-captain Jake Blackwell (20), Sam Willis (24), Ben Hentschke (22) and Richard Crute (29-not-out) all recorded credible scores and another team effort will be a must for the Roos.
Hentschke and Willis can also be dangerous with the ball and the return of Bowen Hosking last week bolstered the bowling ranks.
However, it will all come down to the toss to decide which discipline is put to the test on day one.
For the Tigers, they come off the back of their first loss of the year, after the Eagles were too strong on their home deck.
Declan Kenny had a quiet day with the ball compared to previous rounds, with just one wicket to his name, while it was Tim Young who rose above.
He finished with 4/33 from eight overs and will be eager to replicate these numbers either tomorrow or next week.
North has had some highlights with the bat this season and will come out swinging against the Roos.
Jake Schutz has been in fine form of late, with 54 runs last round backing up an impressive 96 the week before.
If the Tigers take to the crease tomorrow he will be one to watch and West bowlers will need to cut him short if they are to hold North at bay.
Captain Matt McInerney has been inconsistent with the bat so far, but if his current statistics are anything to go by, he is due for another solid run.
He was out for a duck in Round 1, before recording a solid 87-not-out the following week, while last round he scored just one.
North will hope to bounce back from its Round 3 loss with a solid opening day with bat or ball, while for West it is a matter of finding some confidence in the early stages of the season.
Whichever side can hit hardest tomorrow, will set itself up for the win in day two.
