Top South Coast cricket club Lake Illawarra will carry the fortunes of the region in the prestigious SCG Country Cup having advanced to tomorrow's quarter-finals on the Central Coast.

The Lakers take on Tuggeranong Valley knowing a victory, plus another win on Friday in the semi-finals would earn the club a place in the Cup final at the Sydney Cricket Ground in February.

The Lakers are the only club from the South Coast or Illawarra competition to make the quarter-finals and reached the last eight with a win over Illawarra's Keira.

Lake Illawarra have qualified for the last eight of the SCG Cup before, including playing out a tie in the 2007 semi-final against Merewether, only to miss out on the final on countback.

Long-serving Lakers batsman Tony McCabe captained the side in that semi-final loss and described it as one of his toughest defeats.

The Lakers and Tuggeranong Valley are joined by Coffs Harbour, Merewether, Hamilton-Wickham, Dubbo, Albury Wodonga and Lisarow-Ourimbah in the quarter-finals.

Hundreds of club sides including 10 from the Illawarra comp nominated for the Cup hoping to reach the final and play at the SCG.