Helensburgh will host Keira in the final two-day game of the season and the stakes could not be higher, with second place on the ladder and a home final on the line. 

“It’s crucial,” Connor said. “Obviously being ahead is comforting, but if we lose they jump ahead. It’s crucial we finish in the top two, especially with the weather around during the semis, it can play havoc on games.

“We’ll do everything in our control to get the win so they don’t get back ahead of us and we can finish in the top two.”

The wicket at Rex Jackson Oval has provided spinners with plenty of turn and bounce in recent weeks and Connor is confident it will play to in-form spinner Troy Coleman’s favour.

“One hundred per cent it brings Troy into the game, not just Troy, but Dan Constable and myself. I think having a good spin attack, especially at the back end of the season is crucial. Pitches seem to be getting a lot drier, hopefully we can take advantage of that.”

Helensburgh captain Mitch McCrae extended his superb season with a patient 65 in last week’s loss to Balgownie and Connor knows his bowlers will need to be disciplined to prevent him taking the game away.

“He’s a quality player. I think we need to build pressure on him and the batsman at the other end. We’ll look to put pressure on him by taking wickets at the other end, but we’ll try to get him out as well. If we can get him out, it puts pressure back on the rest of the batsmen.”

While Connor is hopeful the wicket will bring his spin bowlers into the game, Helensburgh have plenty of spinners of their own able to do damage on their home wicket. Connor acknowledges his batsmen will have to stay on their game in order to prevent the bowling side dictating play. 

“Yeah, I think the key is not to read too much into it, try and get on the front foot, put the pressure back on the bowler. Sometimes you can get caught out focusing on not getting out, that brings spinners into their groove. We’ll be looking to attack their bowlers and put pressure back on them to bowl a good line and length.”

The weekend’s other matches also have finals implications, with five teams jostling for fourth position. 

Last week’s loss to Keira saw Wollongong slip out of the top four and they will be desperate to get back on track when they play sixth-placed Northern Districts in a crucial match. 

University will aim to solidify their standing in the top four, but it will be no easy task, with Corrimal sitting in eighth and a small chance of sneaking into the four with two victories. 

An outright victory will keep Dapto’s slim finals chances alive and they will be confident of achieving that result when they face last-placed Wests.

Competition leaders Balgownie will strive to solidify their place on the ladder when they take on Port Kembla.