The final eight sides have been decided in the statewide knockout competition and Cox said there was a positive mood around the camp following their win over Parkes.

“There’s a really good vibe since then when we came back from being all but defeated and that fightback instilled a lot of camaraderie and a really good felling,” he said.

Sides from the Western Zone have struggled to make it past the quarter-final stage in the past, often because a low seeding put them up against one of the top sides in the state. Despite being seeded fifth this time around, Cox knows his side still face a big challenge to reach tomorrow’s semi-final.

“They've got some top-class players and Mark Higgs has made himself available and he played first-class cricket for a number of years, so he's going to be one we'll have to watch,” Cox said. “Josh Bennett is from out this way and he’ll move the ball so we'll have to contend with him early and they've also got some handy all-rounders who are hard hitting,"

 ACT Comets players Vele Dukoski and Dean Solway are Queanbeyan’s other star players.

There’s also talk of former Bathurst batsman Blake Dean playing for Queanbeyan after he was dropped from the Sydney Thunder side for last night’s Big Bash clash with Adelaide Strikers, but Cox said the focus was on his side.

“It’s pleasing to keep some consistency in our SCG Cup side and everyone is fit an available and most importantly keen,” he said. “I know the boys have enjoyed the break over Christmas but they've been thinking about this game so we're ready to go.”

The coastal breeze in Shellharbour will make the pitch  conducive to swing bowling and Cox said that was something  that gave his side an advantage before adding one of his batsman needed to go on and make a big score.

“All our bowlers move the ball but we've still got to work to the same plans and bowl in those tight areas and make the most of the new ball,” he said.  “And in one-day cricket you want your top four or five to make runs and someone has got to go on and make a decent score but we've got real depth in our batting right down to number 11.”

Dubbo’s 13-man squad includes former Orange batsman Trent Colley. Cox said no decision had been made on the final 11 for today’s match.