The batsman is aiming to help Western Waves to the Victorian Country Cricket League (VCCL) under 21 championship at Warrion tomorrow.

If you look at his Waves statistics, the opener enters the grand final against Barwon in undesirable form, coming off two ducks.

But the Merrivale cricketer refuses to think negatively.

“I don’t look it at that way,” he said of his back-to-back ducks.

“I look at it like I’ve been in pretty good form at club level.

“If I go out there and some guy’s bowling 135km/h at me, that might change my mindset a bit, but I’ve got a couple of starts in the last couple of (club) games.

“That’s what’s in my mind.”

Stapleton has made a total of 151 runs for the Tigers this season at an average of 21.6.

In the Western Waves Twenty20 Festival of Cricket in December, he led the scoring for Warrnambool and District Cricket Association’s (WDCA) under 21 side after he belted 157 runs at a handy average of 31.4.

He believes his strong form at the Festival of Cricket led to his selection in the Waves’ under 21 team, which defeated Central Highlands in the semi-final to progress to tomorrow’s VCCL decider.

“Central Highlands had won it the last three years, so it was good to beat them,” Stapleton said.

“They beat us in Terang last year on their way to the final.”

The 20-year-old believes the Waves have compiled a talented side.

“We’ve got a fairly good team,” he said. “We probably have the most representatives in the Vic Country team. Cam (Williams), Ben Grinter, Matt Bignell (and Simon Close) all made that squad.”

Stapleton is one of nine WDCA players in the Western Waves side, which is also made up of Grassmere, South West and Hamilton District players.

“It’s enjoyable because you get to play with a lot of new people,” he said. “At Country Week you play with some people from the same association and you make good mates out of it, but this one you get to play with people from other associations.”

The Western Waves under 21 team also consists of Grinter (captain), Bignell, Close, Will Chapples, Nick Butters, Daniel Jones, Matt Brophy, Hank Schlaghecke, Tom Bowman and Joe Higgins.

Action starts at 11am.