If circumstances allowed it, Colts would go into their first grade decider against Redbacks boasting four sets of brothers, two cousins and an uncle in their first 12.

On the other side, Redbacks’ opening bowling duties will be shared by siblings Ben and Adam Orme, before Scott Rice takes his place in the middle-order.

His brother Dene will be part of Redbacks’ second grade team, as will Sam and Dan Knox, and Jay and Jeremy Cleary.

For Colts, skipper Daniel Casey says the renowned tightness and mateship of his club owes a lot to the family atmosphere, and it has played a major role in getting them to where they are this weekend.

“You could see that last weekend against Oxford Centennials with the amount of people we had there supporting us. We’ve got a good thing going at our club and we’re enjoying it,” he said.

“Week in, week out we’ve got Henry and Olly Shoemark’s dad watching us, [and] Matt Stephens’ family comes down to watch every game – he’s Callum Hotham’s uncle, too.

“The two Hotham boys [Callum and Connor] are related as well, and there’s obviously a lot of sets of brothers in the club and it makes for a really good vibe among the team.

“I would say it definitely plays a part in how we’ve gone. We have always gotten along well as a side, but we look around the field this season and everyone is playing for each other and giving 110 per cent in everything they do.”

In addition to the Shoemark brothers, both of whom are likely to miss the game despite having played for most of the season, Tony and Paul Clancy will take their place in the side against Redbacks.

Casey and his step-brother Matt Lawson will be key men, as will Craig and Chris Berry.

“It is going to be a tight game, I think. The biggest thing about Redbacks is that they are just a smart team. 

“They’re well led by Ben Orme and he gets good support from Matt Willis – they set good fields,” Casey said.

“All it is going to take, though, is for us to get on a roll, particularly with the ball, and I think we can get on top of them.”

Meanwhile, the Orme brothers loom as being absolutely crucial for their team’s fortunes, and not just because one of them is in charge of the team.

Having played most of his cricket for the Ox-Cents second grade side over the last decade, Adam Orme joined his brother this season and has instantly become one of the side’s most important members.

Like Ben, he has taken 28 wickets, at a good average of 19.2, and has bowled big overs throughout the two-day portion of the competition.

That pair, along with Shabbir Dhamani, loom as vital men for Redbacks given that they have bowled the majority of their team’s overs between them in addition to taking the bulk of their wickets.

“For the last four or five years Adam has wanted to get back into the cricket, but he’s played a fair bit of rugby in that time and been a bit injury prone. He was keen for this season and I told him there was a spot for him,” Ben Orme said.

“He started pretty well and then asked for the new ball; he got his chance and has done extremely well. He bowls perfect outswingers and has the ability to bring them back in as well.

“I don’t feel like there’s extra pressure on myself, Adam and Shabbir. We’ve bowled well together and the good thing is that if one of us gets belted, it is easy to fall back on the other two knowing that they will get the job done.

“Colts are bowling so well at the moment, and I think the best way for us to handle that with the bat is to trust ourselves and back our instinct. But all of our top nine batsmen are aggressive and sometimes you have to bat with your brain and not your ego.

“I haven’t really thought about what it would be like to lead three premierships in a row, but it would be a pretty special feeling.”

CITY COLTS: Daniel Casey (c), Paul Clancy, Tony Clancy, Matt Stephens, Craig Hanrahan, Matt Lawson, Callum Hotham, Connor Hotham, Craig Berry, Chris Berry, TBA

BATHURST CITY: Ben Orme (c), Greg Adams, Matt Willis, Kirby Earle, Joey Coughlan, Scott Rice, Shabbir Dhamani, Jarrod Urza, Cohen Schubert, Adam Orme, John Rudge