Northern Districts set for test of depth as Cricket Illawarra Twenty20 season reaches climax

Nor will Jono Fowels, Xavier McDevitt or Eric Denhartog.

The quartet will represent the Illawarra in this weekend's Creighton Cup, leaving the remainder of the squad to fight for a Twenty20 semi-finals berth.

Read more: Old foes Gerringong and Warilla renew rivalry for Artie Smith Trophy

Joe McDevitt, however, isn't worried.

"I'm confident we'll have a good showing," McDevitt said. "We're lucky to have a lot of depth at the club.

"We have a couple of excellent young spinners that I'm excited to see play. Bailey Leadbitter and Isaac Warburton, they're only 17 and very talented, so it's great they get an opportunity.

"Depth has been the key to our success. It makes a big difference at training, it's a competitive environment, guys competing for spots and pushing each other.

"This weekend is an opportunity for some of those guys. If they're scoring runs and taking wickets, that's the standard for selections."

Saturday's slate of Illawarra play is sure to throw up a handful of surprise results, with the association's top players away on rep duties.

For those clubs jostling for a top-four finish, the Creighton Cup couldn't have come at a worse time.

The final weekend of the Twenty20 competition will see teams play two matches on Saturday afternoon.

That is, of course, if the forecast rain stays away long enough for games take place.

The top three of Wollongong, Keira and Northern Districts each have three wins from three matches.

University are fourth on eight points with one loss.

Fifth-placed Balgownie are level with Uni, while Helensburgh and Wests can make things interesting with two wins on Saturday.

After falling in the grand final last summer, the Butchers are determined to go one better this year.

Given how congested the top-half of the ladder is, McDevitt knows how crucial this weekend's games against Corrimal and Wests are.

"Our main focus is still the one-day competition, but the Twenty20 is such a fun environment. We want to be there and lift the trophy.

"It's looking like we'll need to win at least one out of two to cement our place in the semis. We're confident we'll win at least one.

"I don't think we'll lose too much with our batting or bowling, the guys have been performing really well in second grade. Jackson Stewart will captain the side and Justin Brancato scored a lot of runs last week."

Saturday's action will kick off at midday with Keira to face an undermanned Bally, while Wests will host University. Wollongong are set to take on Port Kembla, Northern Districts play Corrimal and Dapto will travel north to face Helensburgh.

The Canaries will then have to return to Wollongong to play Uni at 3.30pm. The Magpies will make the drive to face the Tigers, while the Devils will play the Butchers at Figtree Oval.

Finally, Corrimal host Port Kembla and Keira take on Wollongong in a match that could determine who finishes on top of the ladder.

Saturday October 24, noon: KEIRA v BALGOWNIE at Keira Village, WESTS v UNIVERSITY at University Oval, WOLLONGONG v PORT KEMBLA at Thomas Dalton West, NORTHERN DISTRICTS v CORRIMAL at Hollymount Park, HELENSBURGH v DAPTO at Rex Jackson Oval.

Saturday October 24, 3.30pm: HELENSBURGH v BALGOWNIE at Rex Jackson Oval, UNIVERSITY v DAPTO at University Oval, WESTS v NORTHERN DISTRICTS at Figtree Oval, KEIRA v WOLLONGONG at Keira Village, CORRIMAL v PORT KEMBLA at Ziems Park.