St Pat’s Old Boys may have missed their opening opportunity to reach the Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade final but a win this weekend over Bathurst City at the Sportsground can keep their premiership hopes burning strong.

Saints’ loss to Rugby Union last weekend has set up the preliminary final meeting with Redbacks, a club who have become accustomed to reaching this point of the BDCA season.

However, this is new territory for St Pat’s.

Redbacks have won four of the last five BDCA first grade premierships and in that time the Saints have reached just one finals series.

This has been the most promising season for the Saints since that last finals appearance in 2012-13 and they’ve achieved their current position thanks to the efforts of some of Bathurst’s top juniors.

Bathurst City might be more familiar with the preliminary final situation but St Pat’s are more than ready for the occasion, according to Saints captain Adam Ryan.

“Bathurst City are a class outfit and they’re not one of those teams where you talk about getting one player out. They’ve got a strong order that can bat all the way down and you can’t take it easy against any of their bowlers.

“We just need our guys to treat it like any other game.”

Pat’s were all out for 190 against Rugby Union in the major semi-final before their opponent caught the total just four wickets down.

Saints were far from disappointing in the match, and were hurt mostly by Tyler Horton’s maiden first grade century.

Pat’s return to the same venue for take two at grand final qualification.

“Last game was pretty competitive but we just didn’t take our opportunities when they came. We just have to give it our all and hopefully come away with the win this time,” Ryan said.

“Even though it was a loss it was a game that we could learn a lot from. We also haven’t had much game time at the Sportsground this year so it was good to play there.

“The deck probably caught our guys out a few times and that’s something that we’ll be putting a focus on improving at training.”

The Saints’ only other match at the Sportsground this season was back in their round four win over Centennials Bulls.

Rain prevented Pat’s from meeting Redbacks on two occasions this season, leaving just the a single two-day meeting between the clubs.

Pat’s will look to turn around the result of that match in which they were rattled by a Trent Hemsworth seven wicket haul.

Saints have been forced to make a pair of changes for the preliminary final.

Faizan Thaver has been ruled out with a broken hand. Thaver picked up the injury against Rugby Union during a catch attempt.

He will be replaced by a member of Pat’s impressive junior contingent Bailey Brien.

Ben Mitchell’s absence due to other sporting commitments leaves a big hole in the Pat’s lineup.

However, Brendon Cutmore’s experience will go a long way towards filling that void.