It was round one of 2019-20 when the region's premier batsman injured his rotator cuff while fielding a ball, requiring surgery and leading to a prolonged rehabilitation.

Along the way, Bally missed out on the top four without him, as their recent habit of making a late charge proved all too hard for once.

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Batty has only gone on with it once in four attempts this campaign, a 75 not out against Corrimal, but Rob Fisher, Adam Berwick and Michael Henderson have shared run-scoring responsibilities to once against make the Magpies a dominant force.

"I didn't know what I was getting myself in for when I did my rotator cuff," he said.

"I was in a lot of pain and needed the surgery, but those muscles are just so sensitive, I was in agony for a while.

"I'd never done a major injury like that before, it was just one of those things."

He's spent time in Sydney grade cricket, but Batty has long been a key figure in the Illawarra scene, including famously scoring 116 in an innnings of 9-235, as Balgownie wore down Helensburgh in 2017-18.

Batty was also 83 not out for Keira in the 2013-14 title, which was controversially ended for bad light as Uni frantically tried to reel in the Lions score.

But in more recent times, Bally have been sluggish starters, only to surge towards finals after the Christmas-New Year break.

Which is why upcoming matches against Dapto, Helensburgh and top-four rivals Wollongong presents an opportunity for Balgownie to gain an early finals foothold.

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Especially when leaders Northern Districts and Wollongong clash at North Dalton Park on Saturday.

"If we can knock these next three games over, it will put us in a great position where we won't need to chase later on," he said.

"We've just got to keep with them, Northern Districts, Uni and Wollongong, they look like the main contenders. We're one of the older teams in the competition, so the one-day format is helping us a bit."

Batty was wary of another Illawarra veteran in Dale Scifleet, who amassed 155 not out and 3-24 against Corrimal last Saturday.

"Sciffers has been around for a long time and he's definitely their best player," he said.

Round 6 (one-dayers)

Saturday (11.30am)

WOLLONGONG v NORTHERN DISTRICTS at North Dalton Park

WESTS v KEIRA at Figtree Oval

PORT KEMBLA v UNIVERSITY at King George Oval

CORRIMAL v HELENSBURGH at Ziems Park

DAPTO v BALGOWNIE at Reed Park