Coro Cougars and Exies Diggers set to face off in GDCA first grade

Coro is sitting at the top of the table by virtue of two bonus-point wins including a resounding victory other the Panthers last weekend while Diggers with just two points behind them.

Diggers skipper Theo Valeri is pleased with how his side have started the season given their struggles to find numbers.

"We have been down a bit on players in recent weeks," he said.

"But credit to the boys who have stepped up they have come in and done the job required."

Valeri pointed to the performance of Leon Vico last weekend who picked up five wickets in three overs as an example of someone stepping up when called upon.

The bowling stocks for the Diggers will be boosted with a former Coro fast bowler making his debut of his new side this weekend.

"Lucas Conlan will be back this weekend, but that will be the only change," he said.

"He is a big pick up for us and will key for this match and the rest of the season going forward.

"He is one of those blokes who you can chuck the ball, and he will find a way to pick up a wicket."

The Diggers skipper has had a strong start to the season with the bat in hand having scored 117 runs across the first two games of the season and continued that form for the Rangers side who played the Border Bullets.

Valeri was happy with how things were progressing.

"It's just about finding that consistency," he said.

"That will be the key for everyone in the squad, not just myself."

Valeri wasn't surprised to see his opposition up towards the top of the table, and he is looking forward to the contest.

"We knew at the start of the season that Coro would be a tough side to beat and one of the dark horses to take out the competition," he said.

"If we are able to pick up the wickets of Hayden (Pascoe) or Dean (Bennett) early, we will be able to put pressure on their middle order, and that will be key."

The damage the pairing can do is clear when you look at the early stats for the season. The Coro skipper Pascoe has scored 95 runs so far this season while Dean Bennett has also started the season strongly with 64 runs.

For a bowling perspective, the spin of Jack Hutchinson will need to be treated with the utmost respect as he leads the first-grade competition with nine wickets which includes a five-wicket haul in the Cougars loss to Eagles. The top of the table clash will get underway at 12.30pm on Saturday.

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