With the outfield filled with patches of sand and potholes as a result of drainage works carried out over the winter, the Devils were prepared to play the first day of their round nine two-day clash.

Dapto were hesitant and when the umpire ruled the ground unsafe, after the toss had happened, play was abandoned for the day.

Figtree Oval has since been closed by Wollongong Council, with the venue set to remain out of action for December and most of January.

The clash will be played as a 50-over game under two-day rules at North Dalton Park on Sunday and Churchill said his side is expecting a fiery affair.

"The fact we're playing is a good result," Churchill said. "We're still kind of displeased with what happened to begin with. We feel that since we tossed, the game should have been on.

"We're putting that behind us now, we're looking forward to the game on Sunday. We want to get out there and get a win.

"We are expecting a little bit of heat from Dapto, but that's part of the game. We'll have to do our best to ignore it, watch the ball and focus on our game."

Moving beyond the controversy of last week, Churchill knows Sunday's match is a crucial one.

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The last game of the competition proper before the Christmas break, the two sides are determined to reinforce their ladder position.

For Dapto that means remaining in touch with and potentially joining the top four, while for Wests that means remaining in contact with the top two.

"It's such a big game," Churchill said. "We can create a pretty big gap between us and fourth and fifth with a win, so it's big.

"It will be really good to cement a spot in that top three and get a bit of clearance from fourth and fifth.

"We need to continue playing as consistently as possible, especially with our bowling. If Dalton plays how we know it plays, if you can bowl in a certain area, it can be really tough to bat.

"We're going to try to do that, stick to our gameplan and hopefully come out on top."

The remainder of Cricket Illawarra round nine games will conclude on Saturday, with a number of matches evenly poised.

Before Wests and Dapto take to North Dalton Park on Sunday, the ground will see Balgownie attempt to chase down Wollongong's 9-273 on Saturday. Magpies captain Jame Fleming is confident his batsmen will do the job.

Northern Districts' bowlers are in for a big day, the competition leaders hoping to defend last week's 242 in their clash with Keira.

Helensburgh will chase early wickets as they look to prevent Corrimal from surpassing the Tigers' 9-204 at Rex Jackson Oval.

Finally, University will resume at 1-49 in reply to Port Kembla's 207. Amit Balgi and Ryan Smyth are the not-out batsmen.

Saturday December 7 12pm:

NORTHERN DISTRICTS, 242, v KEIRA at Hollymount Park

WOLLONGONG, 9-273, v BALGOWNIE at North Dalton Park

HELENSBURGH, 9dec-204, v CORRIMAL at Rex Jackson Oval

UNIVERSITY, 1-49, v PORT KEMBLA, 207, at University Oval.

Sunday December 8 10am:

WESTS v DAPTO at North Dalton Park. One-day game played under two-day rules.

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