Cheeseman said yesterday that the team's most honourable loss of the 2009-10 campaign came in its one-day encounter with Russells Creek in round three at Mack Oval, when the home side won by four wickets.

Two weeks later the sides will meet on turf for the first two-day round of the season and he was optimistic a different result could be achieved.

"We batted very well last time we played them in the one-dayer," Cheeseman said.

"We set it up pretty well but just couldn't break partnerships in the middle order.

"Our bowlers prefer to bowl on turf so hopefully we can do a bit better this time.

"We're pretty confident if we bat for 80 overs, with our bowling line-up, we'll win most games."

The theory and the execution haven't jelled since an impressive round one victory against Dennington.

Brierly Christ Church lost its three subsequent encounters.

Creek has followed a different trajectory to build a 3-1 record and sits second on the ladder entering today's contest at Brierly.

The Bulls have focused on batting partnerships since last Saturday's heavy loss to Allansford, with game simulation training on Thursday lasting until 7.45pm.

Cheeseman, who is averaging 25.25 from his four innings, said he was working on converting a start into a significant contribution.

Brierly is also looking for a new batting partner for Cheeseman at the top of the order with Stuart Poyner dropping down the order.

Poyner, Matthew Brophy and Jason Greer have mixed and matched but the Bulls are still in the process of finding a settled top order.

With Shane Murphy and Stephen Easterbrook unavailable today, the middle order will be strengthened by the inclusions of Brophy and Dale Mitchell.

Cheeseman, who is in his third season with Brierly since crossing from Lismore, averaged 34.33 in nine appearances last season.