Tackling the reigning Orange District Cricket Association Twenty20 champions under lights at Wade Park, Molong skipper Trent Fraser believes his side has already exceeded popular belief simply by making it through to the final four.

“We started the season without too many expectations,” the all-rounder said, adding a grand final berth would mean a substantial amount for both Molong cricket and its players.

“It’d be great. It’s already provided a lot of the boys with a bit of excitement for their cricket. Everyone is really enthusiastic.

“Anything from here is a bonus though.”

As a result of Molong’s anticipated willingness to throw caution to the wind, Orange City skipper Matt Findlay was predicting an unpredictable adversary.

“They could pile 200 on you, or get rolled for 40. They’ve got plenty of firepower with the bat, and experience with the ball to know what to do. They provide an unknown aspect, which makes them dangerous,” Findlay said.

Despite being the reigning champs, Findlay believes his side has flown under the radar in 2013-14.

“Everyone was talking about how good CYMS were, and how to beat them. And now Cavaliers have demolished a couple of teams, they’re the favourites,” Findlay said, with Cavs the first side  through to this year’s T20 final courtesy of a 61-run win over CYMS.

“I think we’ve flown under the radar this season, which has worked in our favour.”

Molong, to a degree, has done the same.

Semi-finalists last summer in the ODCA’s Twenty20 competition, Molong, made up of teams from Cudal, Manildra and Molong, will push the Warriors to the brink of a place in next week’s decider.

That is, if you ask Fraser, as long as the blues can score some more runs.

“We’re happy to get to this stage again,” he added.

“We caught a couple of (Orange City) games when we were in the double header stage. They look like they’ve got a couple of big hitters. We’ll have to try and get on top of them early.”

Tonight’s semi-final begins at Wade Park from 6.30pm. 

In the case of the match being impacted by rain, Molong will tackle Orange City on Wednesday, February 19.

MOLONG: Trent Fraser (c), Brett Wykes, Grant Williams, Nigel Brazier, Luke Wood, John Mulhall, Aaron Wilson, Steve Fairley, Andrew Drady, Jake Evans, Ed Twiss.

ORANGE CITY: Matt Findlay (c), David Boundy, Shaun Grenfell, Shaun Churchill, Craig Rogan, Ben Nexhip, Adam Cowden, Jackson Coote, Ben Findlay, Andrew Rutledge, Troy O’Keeffe (wk), Ed Morrish (non-bat), Steve Sharp (13th).