GRAND finalists Woodford and Russells Creek have eyes drawn to a cut-throat crescendo in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.
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Russells Creek narrowly holds second-place from Woodford, who trails by just four points despite losing six out of its first seven matches this season.
The Alastair Templeton-coached West Warrnambool must defeat bottom-placed East Warrnambool to secure its place, and could finish third if Woodford fails to win.
Allansford is the only side to have security atop the ladder.
Second-year Russells Creek captain Cam Williams said his men were oozing confidence leading into
“I think in any sport you need to be confident. If you don’t have confidence, you don’t have belief and you may as well not rock up,” he told The Standard.
“(Woodford) is pretty much our first final. They’re the three-time reigning premiers and we have good tussles with them.
“We’re looking forward to the intensity they bring and we’re up for the test.”
Creek reversed poor batting form to post 285 against Wesley-CBC a fortnight ago after coach Jayaweera Bandara stressed partnerships were key to their finals aspirations.
But Williams refused to put the onus entirely on his batsmen, instead calling on his group to lift as a collective.
“You can never write off improvement in any area. You back your players in to achieve everything,” he said.
“Finals isn’t about individual performances. It’s about which team can settle first, get into the rhythm of the game and if you’re nervous and caught in the moment, you’ll fall over.”
Woodford mentor John Houston said his side was hungry to make a mark and to claim its fourth-successive two-day premiership.
The multiple premiership coach, who also tasted success leading Dennington, said captain Nick Butters had high demands of his players and drove quality.
“He’s an excellent leader for his age and he just instills that confidence in his players,” Houston said.
“We expect to do well and we’re disappointed when we don’t. That makes us work twice as hard to achieve what we can.
“When we play the better teams it probably brings out the best in us and that’s probably a natural progression.
“I think you see that with good teams in whatever sport you look at.”
Meanwhile, ladder leader Allansford faces off against Port Fairy at Uebergang Oval in a bid to carry its winning form into finals.
