THEY had to spectate the last round of Bathurst District Cricket Association action hoping that results would fall their way and now Bathurst City are looking to make the most of their chance they've been given.
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Redbacks earned a place in this weekend's first grade preliminary final against St Pat's Old Boys after the team behind them on the ladder, Rugby Union, failed to overcome City Colts in the last round of the regular season.
Bathurst City's win over Rugby Union the round earlier proved crucial, and it's more of that cricket Redbacks are searching for if they're going to snap the Saints' nine-game winning streak.
One of the players who showcased quality cricket in that match was Redbacks opening batsman Mark Day.
Day hit 55 against Rugby to land his second half century of the season - his other one being a 93 against St Pat's back in round two.
He would love to produce something special at the Sportsground over this Saturday and Sunday.
"I've had a couple of scores and a lot of starts but I haven't been able to convert them," he said.
"I feel like I'm hitting the ball well though so hopefully this weekend is the one."
That 93 helped Day and his side post an 18-run win over Pat's at the Sportsground and it gives Redbacks confidence to know they can bring down the form team of the competition.
With a clutch win to their name coming from their latest game there's plenty of belief among the camp.
You look at the team they've got and we're definitely underdogs but we'll take that.
- Mark Day
"We were quite excited last weekend when we saw the result from the Colts-Rugby game and we've prepped well this week so we just need to go out there with our best game," Day said.
"We're travelling in the right direction. We posted 260 in that last round game against Rugby and that was a really good result for us.
"There's always bits and pieces we can work on and hopefully they come together this weekend.
"Ormey's [Ben Orme] spell against Rugby was unreal so it looks like he's got good rhythm. Joey [Coughlan] is hitting the ball well and I think the team's in great shape."
Redbacks are expected to field a full strength team for the weekend's game.
They will need all hands on deck to snap the Saints' winning run, which goes all the way back to round three.
It's a rare thing to see Redbacks as underdogs for a finals game in recent years but that's certainly the case for the preliminary final.
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Day hopes that status can add some fire to the bellies of the Redbacks squad.
"It's their year to win, in all honesty," he said of St Pat's.
"You look at the team they've got and we're definitely underdogs but we'll take that. We don't mind sliding under the radar.
"They've got Nic Broes up the top who has scored 500 runs and is close to 30 wickets so he's the number one target but there's players like Slats [Connor Slattery], Benny Mitchell who is always a threat, Tanvir Singh and Adam Ryan.
"There's a great core of players there so we have to be at our best throughout the game and not slack off at all."
A win for Redbacks will keep their hopes of a third title in the space of four seasons alive.
Redbacks are five from eight at the Sportsground this season.
This weekend's match starts from the earlier time of 11am both days.