While Mick Delaney and Sammy Dwyer have dominated headlines in the back part of the Royal Hotel Cup season, there's another pair of batters in the competition capable of doing just as much damage: Mick Curtale and Lachie Coyte.
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The damaging duo in the Orange City run-scoring engine room has been in just as damaging form for the Warriors, and heading into Friday night's elimination semi-final at Wade Park, the younger of the two is grateful to have had the experienced head of Curtale at the other end.
"Lining up (with him) in the first game I didn't expect the composure at the other end from him," Coyte said ahead of the blockbuster clash.
"I scored 50-odd that game but wouldn't have got close to it if he wasn't at the other end."
While Cotye reeled off 58 in the competition's opening game, it's arguable the clash with Lithgow Lightning when he batted with Curtale for the first time was his best knock of the tournament.
A Ben Sheehan 102 not out had helped propel Lithgow to 3-163, but Curtale (63 not out off 45) and Coyte (51 off 29) put on 91 together to guide the side home with eight wickets and nearly four overs to spare.
"He's been around a lot of is one of the best Twenty20 players in the Central West," Coyte said.
"He takes a very big mentoring role, obviously pulls you in and says this is what we need, this is what we need to get, we're this far in front of this far behind.
"He's just got a really good cricket brain."
Coyte said he normally doesn't think too hard about Twenty20 cricket - he just plays his natural game - but Curtale had been a massive influence on him and other youngsters in the side, which would play into the Warriors' hands on Friday.
"As far as I've seen if you've got all young fellas often you won't be able to stand up in bigger games like the one tomorrow night," Coyte said, citing the experience of Shaun Grenfell, skipper Ed Morrish and others in the side who provided a level head.
"We've got some of the more experienced guys to rein us in which is good for us young fellas."
It's been a brilliant year for Coyte under lights, hitting 181 runs from four starts for an average of just over 60, and he's relished his change up the order.
"Last year I didn't have much of a batting role which I didn't love but Ed said these were the reasons why an I understood and was fine with," he said.
"This year he's backed me to do the role ... I'm pretty happy with how it's gone."
The side comes up against one of the form teams in the competition on Friday in Cavaliers and Coyte knows how much of a challenge it will be.
He said the key for the game would be how the Warriors coped with Cavs' spin brigade.
"Tthe key is to not let them bog you down, so you've got to rotate the strike and score. Take your opportunities and back yourself against spinners," he said.
"Just got to back yourself and take them on."
The match begins at 6.30pm at Wade Park.
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