The sixth-placed Redbacks play host to eighth-placed Tatura in the two-day clash on consecutive days beginning tomorrow and, with just three points separating the outfits on the table, there is certainly everything to play for.
‘‘Tatura’s still in the frame as well,’’ Kyabram coach Glenn Hart said.
‘‘But we know we just have to keep getting the job done, because if we don’t we won’t be playing finals.’’
Getting the job done is exactly what the Redbacks have been able to manage during the past four rounds, defeating fellow finals aspirants Mooroopna and Shepparton United after taking care of Euroa and Waaia in the preceding matches.
It has been an outstanding turnaround of form for Hart’s charges after they lost four of their first five games.
‘‘There’s nothing that we’ve changed a lot really, we’ve just been able to find a bit more consistency and stay in games longer,’’ Hart said.
‘‘It’s been a really good collective effort with the ball, I think our bowling attack has always been underrated, but they keep on producing for us. They’ve been really patient with the ball and eventually it’s just about being more patient than the batsmen.’’
Jackson (23 wickets at 13) and Charlie McLay (22 at 13.2) have led the way with the ball for the Redbacks, but Jonathan Hipwell has starred since making the jump up to the A-grade ranks, with 11 wickets at 8.5 in three games.
With the bat it has been Troy Thomson who has impressed most in recent matches, making 137 runs at 68.5 in the past three games after dishing out 11 runs across his first four knocks of the season.
‘‘Troy does really apply himself to the task and doesn’t give his wicket away easily, he really digs in,’’ Hart said.
‘‘His goal is to bat as long as he can and if you’ve got an opener still in after tea you’re usually on the way to a good score.’’
Tatura escaped last round’s contest against Karramomus with a narrow victory to keep its hopes alive, and Jayden Armstrong (22 wickets at 16 and 150 runs at 21.4) will be crucial with bat and ball this weekend — especially if he finds himself at the top of his mark at 10.30am on Sunday.
‘‘The early start on Sunday could be interesting,’’ Hart said.
‘‘If you get a bit of dew still around, the pitch could do a fair bit in the morning.’’
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