Semi finals of the Grampians Cricket Association kick off this weekend with four teams in the race for premiership glory. Competing tomorrow for their respective teams will be, from top left, Tim Seymour (Youth Club), Brent Tate (Aradale), Jamie Bach (Swifts/Great Western) and Zander McDougall (Tatyoon).
GCA - Four teams will be battling it out for A grade Grampians Cricket Association glory with the semi-finals to be held over this weekend.
Aradale is out to prove it is not just making up the numbers when the team faces Swifts/Great Western, while Youth Club will be looking for revenge against Tatyoon.
Aradale found some much needed form last weekend with an outright win over Pomonal which catapulted the side into the top four, abruptly ending Buangor's season.
However, the celebration of reaching the Association finals is set to be short lived, with minor premiers Swifts/Great Western well and truly prepared for the business end of the season.
The Combine have dropped just one game this summer and boast plenty of depth in both batting and bowling.
Fresh from a match winning partnership last round, Travis Nicholson and Rick Peters will be ready to challenge Aradale's bowlers.
Opening batsmen James Devery and Sam Cocks must redeem themselves after making no runs last round, while down the middle order Gary Ranton and Jackson Dark will need to withstand the pressure and contribute runs.
Aradale bowler Matthew Baldock is in white hot form and this must continue if his side is to cause the ultimate upset.
However, he will need assistance from Brent Tate and John Butler in order to claim early wickets and not let the Combine gain control, should they bat first.
Marc Brilliant, Jamie Bach and Jackson Dark are leading Swifts/Great Western's bowling attack and they will be looking to outsmart Aradale's top order in Travis Horvatek, Tyler Cronin and Cameron Ralph.
Youth Club has to erase the nightmare of its outright loss to Tatyoon three weeks ago as the team prepares to face last year's premiers again this weekend.
The Clubbers have had a less than ideal preparation in the lead up to finals, losing to Taty and Swifts/Great Western in the past two rounds.
The loss to Tatyoon saw Youth Club surrender its second position on the ladder and now it needs to recover quickly if it is to progress through to the premiership decider.
Clubbers' captain Steve Le Gassick will be hoping to have better luck against Tim McDougall after the Tatyoon bowler took the honours last time, removing Le Gassick twice for no runs.
Matt Delzotto and Tim Seymour are going to feel the heat against a tough Taty bowling attack, led by McDougall, Julian Sambell and Jarred Blandford.
Sambell was a surprise inclusion for Tatyoon last time these sides met and he made a mockery of the middle order.
The new Tatyoon bowling sensation is certainly looking to keep Jamie Solyom, Marcus Marrow and Phil Hall on their toes.
Youth Club bowlers face the daunting task of restricting Tatyoon from making a decent score.
Youth Club's bowling attack has not been convincing of late and this must change should it achieve its grand final ambition.
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