It’s not the reality but it’s a big possibility in the Royal Hotel Cup come the end of this week. 

With Centennials playing Lithgow Lightning on Wednesday and Bathurst City taking up CYMS on Friday, the winners of each match will advance to the final on March 2. 

While the Centennials’ team is not having the best season in Bathurst District Cricket Association, there are several players in the club that excel in the Twenty20 format – Josh Toole and Michael Curtale – who are second and third in the most runs category respectively.

Regardless of its talent, Bulls will not have it easy.

The team takes on the reigning champions Lightning side, that is made up of some of the best talent from Lithgow. 

Bulls last made the Royal Hotel Cup final in 2001-02, when they lost to Cavaliers by 14 runs when the competition was played under a 40 overs format. 

For Redbacks, they will take on a CYMS outfit who finished the competition in first place and undefeated from four games. 

While Redbacks skipper Matt Willis said it’s good for two Bathurst teams to be in the semi-finals, he said there’s only one position that really matters. 

“That’s winning it,” he said.

“We’ve just got to make sure, hopefully, both do. If not, at least one of us gets through. If we don’t make it we’ll certainly be going for the Centennials boys.”  

Redbacks were the only Bathurst team to compete in the competition last season and they lost to CYMS both this and last season. 

Willis is hoping his side can finally get one over their Orange rivals. 

“We’re pretty keen. We haven’t beaten CYMS. They’ve got us twice, so hopefully we’re due. We’ve got to try and turn that around,” he said. 

Redbacks definitely have a team to match with the best in the Orange competition but some players will be absent on Friday. 

“Trent Hemsworth is probably our gun. So is Ben Orme but unfortunately Benny won’t be there. He’s on afternoon shifts. That’s a big loss for us,” Willis said. 

“We’ve got a couple guys coming in from second grade – Jay Cleary, Dene Rice and Troy Grimshaw.”

“They’ll give us a few different options that the CYMS boys wouldn’t have seen before.”

Both Redbacks’ and Bulls’ game starts at 6.30pm and both will be played at Orange’s Wade Park.