The Lakers have contested division two the past two seasons but, having made back-to-back finals series, believe they will be competitive in the top grade.

Cheslett said returning to division one hadn’t been discussed formally at a committee meeting. 

But talk within the club suggested promotion was a possibility.

He believed teenagers Jordan Riches, Henry Moyle, Tom Cheslett and Jack Atkins would make the transition.

McLaughlin brothers Troy, Jye and Mitch, Bernie McLeod, Shane Stephens and Shane Wilson loom as the senior players to back them up.

Cheslett said the Lakers’ preference would be to play solely 50-over, one-day matches. Division one featured a mix of one-day and two-day matches this summer.

“We’re going along the lines of we made the decision two years ago to stay out (of division one) for two years,” Cheslett said.

“Therefore, the club is in the situation where we should be going back up. That hasn’t been officially said at a meeting though.

“Even if there’s not an opening, we really think if we had the choice to go up, they (the SWC executive) wouldn’t be able to stop us. They say they don’t want a bye, but they wouldn’t want one of the premier turf wickets in the league to be sitting idle for another year.”

Should Camperdown return to division one, its presence would either be as an extra team — bringing the total to nine — or in place of Simpson.

Simpson battled this season, losing 11 of its 13 matches, including five outright. Its only win was against Pomborneit, when it defended a measly 79.

Tigers captain Nick Harding said the prospect of dropping to division two hadn’t been discussed at committee level.

His preference was to remain in the top grade but “it’s something we have to work out as a group”.

Harding said reverting to one-day matches could convince the Tigers that remaining in division one was in their  best interests.

“If it goes back to one-day cricket, I reckon a lot of us would be keen to stay up. With two-day cricket, it’s killed us,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of farmers who play. To pick a team where everyone can play for both weeks is really hard.

“We’ve had to take division three players, then they’re left short.”

Meanwhile, Camperdown will use the cricket off-season to shift its hard-wicket pitch about 30 metres.

Cheslett said the project, partly funded by a $7000 state government grant, aimed to create a larger area for horse trials without impacting the area around the pitch.

The hard-wicket oval is used for dressage and showjumping at least twice a year.