Bathurst City's recent history in the Royal Hotel Cup is a story of hard luck and interference from Mother Nature but for the first time since re-entering the Twenty20 competition in 2016-17, Redbacks' fate appears to be in their own hands.
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The undefeated, Joey Coughlan-led Redbacks need only to defeat Lithgow on in Friday night's final game before the Christmas break to join CYMS as guaranteed semi-finalists, a position the Bathurst side's not been in before.
Even in 2017-18 when they came from fourth to make the grand final - they were beaten by Centennials in an epic - Redbacks were still forced to nervously wait on other results at the death of the preliminary stage to be assured of a semi-final berth.
If we win this we're assured of finals ... it really feels like a semi-final.
- Redbacks skipper Joey Coughlan
They can take everything else out of the equation with a win on Friday night and, considering skipper Joey Coughlan isn't sure who he'll have on deck for their last game before the finals next year, he's hell-bent on making sure that happens.
In particular it appears likely marquee Ben Patterson, who went ballistic in Redbacks' win over Cavaliers, won't be on deck for that clash against St Pat's Old Boys on January 25.
"If we win [on Friday night] we're assured of finals, and with Benny likely away for our last game it really feels like a semi-final for us," Coughlan, who will return from a thumb injury at Wade Park, said.
"You've got to utilise that marquee. Hopefully he has another great game and the rest of us can contribute a little bit more than we did last time.
"He's been a massive addition to the squad. He's played all over the country, has represented Australia in the Indigenous side and has been a part of the (Sydney) Thunder Academy. We're very lucky to have him.
"He's gelled in with the young boys seamlessly and he's really enjoying it."
Coughlan explained Redbacks' player stocks are slightly lighter than he'd hoped for heading into the clash but with a bumper top six still on deck, he's confident they can get the job done against a side they've faced just once before.
In that clash Lithgow actually ended Redbacks' return season with an inspired chase, shocking the entire tournament by running down more than 170, the Lightning went on to win the title that summer too.
"They might be caught up with their own [availability issues leading into Christmas] as well. I'm not sure what they'll throw at us but I know they'll be aggressive," Coughlan said.
"I'd expect Ben Sheehan, Chris Redding and the [like] to be there but I don't know who they'll bring."
Friday night's clash, the 12th of the tournament, is scheduled to start at 6.30pm at Wade Park.
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
