Leagues Club second-grader Col Smith will get his chance at the top tier of cricket this weekend against Hanwood.
Cricket
THE wooden spoon is bad enough, but Leagues Club skipper Matt Vitucci is desperate to avoid the ignominy of a winless season.
That's why the Panthers will throw everything at finals hopefuls Hanwood on Saturday to start the final two-dayer of the first-grade campaign.
"For the last few seasons we've been struggling but we've always managed to jag a win or two," Vitucci said.
"But we really want to get off that duck egg. This is one of our better opportunities to do that and it'd be nice to shape who makes the finals and who doesn't, as well.
"It's very important for us to have a real crack this weekend and go into the second day ahead."
The form guide suggests the Panthers have as good a chance as any to break that winless streak against Hanwood.
It still wasn't the win they've been looking for all season but there were signs of life in last round's loss to in-form Diggers, Vitucci said.
"It was an improved performance last week, but our middle order is still not firing and it puts a lot of pressure on our tail to wag," he said.
"That wouldn't be a problem it's good the way it's been going but it would be better if our middle order was flying. Another 40 runs or so would have made that game a lot tighter."
A new batch of fresh faces could help the Panthers on their hunt for that elusive first victory.
Vitucci said Col Smith and Ben Boland are among a handful of second-graders who will get their chance to prove they belong at Griffith cricket's apex.
"Our second-graders have been performing really well, so I want to give those guys an opportunity to show what they can do and push for spots next season," he said.
"There'll be a fair few changes."