Colin Mitchell, the Western Warriors manager, says the possibility of clinching the T20 Blitz title is secondary to producing another dynamic display.
After making the most of their home double at Titwood last month, the Warriors could potentially become champions in the second round of matches at Forthill tomorrow (Sun).
Such a situation would materialise if Caley Highlanders beat reigning champions Eastern Knights in the opening game of the day and then lose to the Warriors.
However, Mitchell said: “We’re not looking at the maths as we’re just going up there aiming to win our game and continue the great start we made at home.
“We can’t influence what happens in the first game but what I can say is that if we win our one then we will still be top of the table.”
The Warriors reached the summit with impressive wins by 58 runs and six wickets against the Highlanders and Knights respectively and Mitchell added: “We played some decent cricket and we also had some luck which you need to have in T20.
“It was pleasing that we had good performances across the board and showed that we are building a strong squad and ethos.”
The depth of that squad will be tested again at Forthill as the Warriors, like both their rivals, will show several personnel changes with Hamza Tahir, Neil Alexander, Abdul Sabri and Neil Smith all out.
However, with player-coach Con de Lange returning from injury along with Mitchell Rao and Fazal Jawad, it is arguable that the Warriors have just as formidable a look.
The Highlanders might also argue that they have strengthened their hand especially since player-coach Kyle Coetzer is back to lead the side.
Brock Ditchmen also returns to the fray while there are places for Forfarshire duo Rory Johnston and Jack Hogarth.
However, they are sure to miss Aberdeenshire’s South African professional Lesiba Ngoepe who claimed 5-22 at Titwood.
Coetzer will demand that his side makes just as much of home advantage by winning their first match against the Eastern Knights before aiming for revenge against the Warriors.
However, the men from the east are unlikely to relinquish their crown without a fight and John Blain’s side have drafted in Elliot Ruthven and Oliver Brown to provide skipper George Munsey with additional bowling options.
Squads:
Highlanders – K Coetzer, C Venske, C Wallace, C Greaves, S Sharif, R Johnston, B Ditchmen, R Cameron, R Brown, C Robertson, A Neil, J Hogarth.
Knights – G Munsey, M Carson, M Herdman, C MacLeod, M Watt, T Foulds, H Aslam, S Whait, A Evans, C Gosain, E Ruthven, O Brown.
Warriors – R Berrington, M Awais, O Shah, M English, R Henry, R Lyons, F Jawad, C de Lange, D Stafford, A Raza, M Rao, I Malik.
