A month ago, the neutrals would have cringed about a western derby featuring Werribee and Williamstown in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
The Tigers were untouchable at the top of the ladder, while the Seagulls were scrounging for scraps at the bottom.
Some things have stayed the same since Christmas, but others have changed, making the next instalment one to get excited about.
Werribee has achieved a perfect 10 wins to start the season, making the Tigers far and away the league’s hottest team.
“Win the next game and it will pretty much have us finishing on top regardless of the two rounds after that,” Tigers captain Shaun Dean said. “That’s why it’s a really important game for us.”
What has changed in the new year are Williamstown’s maturity levels.
Before the break, the Seagulls relied on a few seasoned campaigners. These days, those veterans – captain Craig Sheedy, Matthew Inness and Grant Sandars – are getting better assistance from the youngsters in the side.
“They’re hitting a bit of a revival and have won their last three out of four,” Dean said. “They’ve got match winners in Sheedy and Inness and quite a few of the younger guys are making some runs.”
Sheedy says his improving side should not be discounted in the big two-day clash, even if the odds are stacked against it. “We go into games knowing that if we can play our best cricket, we can beat all the sides in the competition, no ifs or buts about it,” he said.
The first delivery in the Chirnside Park encounter on Saturday will be sent down at 1pm.
