Fearnley and the team may have a loss to their name coming into the match, but with that being a one-wicket defeat to defending champions Bathurst City, it’s more encouraging than upsetting.

Coming up against an ORC side that have made a much sharper start to their season and are sitting third on the table, Pat’s will have to be on their toes from the outset. 

Pat’s remain in sixth on the ladder with just the single win to come from the one-day series.

Fearnley believes it’s not just the team but his own bowling this season that could use some sharpening up as the business end of the season gets closer.

“I feel like it could be better. The biggest problem is that we haven’t been generating any pressure from both ends. You could bowl one tight over and then the next one is too loose,” he said.

“With our bowling we’ve been giving away too many sundries. We’ve really got to tidy up those wides. I feel we’re batting fine. I’m confident that we’ll survive through the two days because the batting isn’t much of an issue. If anything we’ve been unlucky with it.”

Fearnley had a similar start to his BDCA season this time last year with just a handful a two-wicket matches over the one-dayers.

Once the two-day matches began, he would go on to claim nine wickets over the space of just two games.

It’s been a slow start for the representative bowler who has five wickets to his name from six games, with three of his team’s other bowlers claiming more wickets than himself.

He believes that a change of match length could bring with it a change in his bowling and their results.

“The two-dayers will suit us, I believe. I feel that the younger guys won’t want to rush into their shots as much as before,” he said. “Last week’s match was a big confidence booster. For us to come so close to beating a top team, there’s a lot of positives to come out of that.”

The biggest positive he’s found in the team so far is the desire to perform. It’s just the execution that could use some tweaking.

“With the young team we’ve got they’re always enthusiastic and want to be there. There’s a good vibe in the club. We’re still maybe a year or two away but they’re still really keen,” he said. “Adam Ryan in particular really feeds off that energy and enjoys seeing them all develop their game. Club culture here at the moment is strong.”