This season the Saints are backing themselves to defeat the defending premiers.

This Saturday when the two-day match between the pair resumes at The Scots School, the Saints will be attempting to defend the 267-run total they posted on day one.

Connor Slattery scored a bulk of those runs – 105 – as he belted his maiden first grade century. That knock came at a critical time for the Saints, who had been reduced to 4-57.

It was a knock that only served to further increase the confidence of Slattery and his team-mates.

“Last year with Bathurst City, we really got intimidated by them, a lot of the young guys got intimidated. But this year it's been awesome, not one player is intimidated, everyone is stepping up,” Slattery said.

“We've got to try and roll them now, it's going to be a big bowling effort, but hopefully we can do it.

“I reckon we've got enough runs because we've got a few fair good bowlers on our team, a fair few of the young guys are really good bowlers, so yeah, I'm confident.”

As well as scoring over 250 runs so far this season, Slattery has snared nine wickets and shapes as an important member of the Saints’ bowling attack.

But as confident as the Saints are that they can post what would be an historic maiden win over Bathurst City, Redbacks has the batting fire power in its ranks to chase down the required total.

After missing day one, Matt Willis, Ben Orme and Mark Day are set to return for the second half of the clash on Saturday.

Orme has hit a 94 already this season and has scored 150 runs at an average of 37.50, while Day’s (130 at 32.50) knocks include an 86.

Though Willis has only batted twice so far this season, he boasts 12 centuries and another 30 half centuries in the top grade.

On top of that, Redbacks’ Trent Hemsworth, who has already had knocks of 73 not out and 86 will no doubt be confident following his seven-wicket haul last Saturday.