The Hawkesbury Hawks expect a different Rouse Hill baseball outfit to the one the team thrashed earlier in the season.
The Hawks have been at the top or near it all season, while Rouse Hill has been the cellar dwelling team of the competition.
However, Hawks manager Marty Mockford said Rouse Hill had quietly put together a few wins over the past weeks, and the Hawks were wary or underestimating their opponents.
“We are half way through the season and everybody is finding their feet,” he said.
“Rouse Hill have a lot of old and new players and the last time we played them they didn't click as much.
“But they have won their last few games. I think we're expecting a different team to who we faced last time.”
Mockford said the Hawks were toying with the idea of starting youngster Ekkarad Bumrungsil as the pitcher, with the team set to miss two of their four pitchers.
“Since Ekkarad has come up from under-17s he pitched one game and he did really well, he closed for us last week,” he said.
“I think the young fellas Ekkarad and Riley Mockford will have to step up and fill the holes we'll have in the team this week.
“We've got a new player called Matthew Jiggins. It is his first season with us and hopefully he will step up and be on the ball.”
Mockford said there was no secret to the Hawks’ victory over Rouse Hill last time.
“It was a complete team effort on the last one, everyone batted, fielded and played well,” he said.
“There was great pitching by Luke Gray who was fired up by Rick Upton.”
