The 2013-14 grand finalist is struggling near the foot of the table entering its first two-day fixture against Bookaar today.

The Bulls are without star opener Steve Castle this season and only have fellow top-order bat Steve Murphy to call on occasionally.

Murphy said Pomborneit was adjusting to the changes and was hopeful its form would turn.

“The batting is not clicking at the moment,” he said.

“The fielding and bowling is really good — that side of things has been spot on.

“Steve Castle is not playing and opened the batting for us last year and Coby Dudman’s gone to Merrivale and he used to bat at five. Matty Bignall has stepped up and is opening at the moment with Tim Place and I have stayed at three.

“Steve Walters and Steve Fisher used to bat at eight or nine and now they are at four or five,” he said.

“Guys have got completely different roles to last year so it takes time.”

Murphy said Castle was “probably the best bat in the competition”.

“He leaves a hole in the side, that’s for sure, and with his experience as well it was like having two blokes out there,” he said.

Murphy, who rued his own batting slump, said Pomborneit needed to be patient and “put a lot of value” on its wickets.

He is hopeful the Bulls’ sluggish start won’t cost them a finals berth.

“The aim is to try and make finals,” he said.

“It’s hard to get there without wins before Christmas.”

Murphy is expecting an interesting clash with Bookaar, which sits third on the ladder after the one-day matches.

“I’d like to think we are a good chance against them,” he said.

“But you never know what Simon Baker is going to do so we’d like to get him out early and Fraser Lucas made 100 a few weeks ago too.”

In other matches, top-of-the-table Mortlake hosts fifth-placed Noorat, sixth-placed Heytesbury Rebels face a tough challenge against second-placed Terang and fourth-ranked Cobden plays bottom-placed Simpson which is coming off a stirring win against Pomborneit. 

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au