After last week’s wash out, Saturday will mark Gerringong’s first Twenty20 game of the season and captain Manning Berry identified variation with the ball as the key reversing last year’s result.

“It was disappointing last year to lose that game,” Berry said. “It will be good to bounce back this year with a win.”

“Definitely the key will be to vary it up with the ball, mix up your deliveries, bowl slower balls. If you bowl consistent balls every time batsmen will get the hang of it and be able to hit boundaries, so you really have to mix it up.”

The teams faced earlier this season in a 50-over game, with Kookas claiming a four wicket victory. 17-year-old Jacob O’Connell scored 129 and Berry concedes his team must improve their execution this time around.

“Our batting was good, but we just need to bowl to more of a plan and execute better with the ball and in the field. We have to bowl tighter to Jacob and hope to bowl a few dot balls and keep him at bay.”

Despite holding the edge over their rivals in recent times, Kookas captain Craig Bramble is preparing for a much improved Gerringong team on Saturday.

“Gerringong are a different team now.” Bramble said. “They’ve got all of their players available, they’re going to be a very good team this year. They made the Twenty20 final last year and have really good opening bowlers and young guys who are learning how to bat at this level.”

Round seven

Saturday (12.30pm): KOOKAS v GERRINGONG at Oakleigh Park, SHELLHARBOUR v LAKE ILLAWARRA at Tom Willoughby Oval, OAK FLATS v THE RAIL at Geoff Shaw Oval.