The Saints and City meet in a blockbuster Twenty20 game at Wade Park - weather pending - which will pit together the two Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket grand finalists from the 2020-21 season.

Pat's won't be fielding a marquee player for the big opener, with regular option Ben Parsons not available, but a strong returning core will ensure that the blue and whites are going to be hard to knock over.

Both clubs are coming into the game fresh off opening round BOIDC victories.

Matt Fearnley, who is part of that experienced Pat's group, likes the team Saints will be bringing to the table against a red hot Orange City squad.

"Playing at Wade Park on a Friday night under lights is obviously one of the big attractions of the Bonnor Cup so we're really looking forward to that," he said.

"Nic Broes is back for us this year, and he was our marquee player last year, and with a couple of the younger guys looking for new opportunities it's up to the core group to stand up and try to make an impact this year.

"Ben Parsons is our marquee but with COVID, travel and the Friday night it can make it hard to get a marquee in at times. Our marquees have usually been our junior players, and we did have Jameel Qureshi at one point for a bit of guidance, with his Western Zone experience.

"Our juniors who came through the club are older now. The likes of Connor Slattery, Mitch Taylor and Bailey Brien have become part of that leadership group.

"We just rely on those younger guys who have now matured to stand up and take ownership, which is something we might have been lacking over the past few years."

The Pat's and City contest is building up to a great rivalry game, with the pair being the two title favourites from their respective cities over the past season.

Fearnley said their opponents will pack plenty of Twenty20 fire power.

"They obviously have Fletcher Rose and Ed Morrish as key bowlers for them, and Brett Causer as well," he said.

"In Twenty20 if one batter gets a start that can make a difference. It will be wet so if we do get on then it's crucial that we get the runs on the board."

This will be the first Friday night game of the competition following last weekend's four Sunday matches.

Thursday's rain threatens to get in the way of the upcoming Saints-City clash, and clear Friday weather will be needed to see the game go ahead.

It's not the first time weather has tried to intervene in this meeting.

The two teams were scheduled to meet in last season's Bonnor Cup semi-final but rain prevented the game from going ahead, allowing City to progress to the grand final on net run rate.

Friday's game is scheduled to start from 6.30pm.

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