There will be plenty on the line this weekend when Coro Cougars take on Exies Diggers in GDCA first grade as top spot goes on the line.
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The Cougars are currently occupying first spot, but the Diggers side aren't far behind after an outright win over Hanwood last weekend.
Diggers captain Theo Valeri is confident his side has what it takes to match it with the ladder leaders.
"We have got probably the strongest team so far this season which is great," he said
"It's a great time to have everyone back on board heading into a top of the table clash."
Diggers will be welcoming back Dean Villata and Dean Crack into the side and have had Lucas Conlan and Trevor Richards return to the side in recent weeks.
"He (Trevor Richards) has won countless games through his own effort with the bat, so it is great to have him on board," he said.
While it is still relatively early in the season, Valeri knows that the clash between the two sides could be crucial with the Christmas break only three weeks away.
"It would be a good momentum builder especially heading into the break," he said.
"It will be good to see how we are shaping up at this stage in the season.
"We know their strengths, and they know ours, so it should be a great game."
Looking at the stats the critical wicket for the Diggers side will be Coro skipper Haydn Pascoe who is leading the run-scoring this season and was on the way to a century in the sides meeting earlier in the season before weather intervened and the game was washed out.
Valeri feels if his side sticks to their plans, they will be in a good position.
"Our bowling will be key," he said.
"If we can stick to our structures and plans with the ball that will be crucial. If we can make early inroads into their top order that will put us into a great position."
For Coro with the ball, the danger will be Alex Flood with the new ball while Jack Hutchinson has been in good form as well as they both sit at the top of the wicket-takers for the season with 12 while for Diggers Ben Fattore is their leading wicket-taker with nine.
The top of the table clash will get underway at Exies No 2 at 1pm on Saturday.
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