The Chevrolet Warriors, after a tough Momentum One-Day Cup campaign, want to get back on the proverbial horse in the Sunfoil Series when they face the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium from Thursday.
"It wasn't the best one day campaign for us, but we were able to give a few players some experience there, and that can only bode well for the future," Chevrolet Warriors captain Davy Jacobs admitted. "But now we want to get back to winning ways in the four-day stuff, especially as we started the season well in the Sunfoil Series."
The keeper/batsman added that he was just relieved to be playing the longer version again, after an extended break due to injury. "I've done a lot of work in the winter to get my strength back up, and it just feels great to be playing first-class cricket again. It might take a bit of time to get back into the swing of things, but I am really looking forward to it," he enthused.
Jacobs' charges travel to face a confident bizhub Highveld Lions outfit, who have reached finals in their last two competitions, the T20 Champions League, and then last week's washed out Momentum One Day-Cup final.
"That's what we set out to do this season, compete for every trophy," a bubbly Geoffrey Toyana, the bizhub Highveld Lions coach said. "It's a pity we couldn't get a result in the final last week, but now the focus shifts to the Sunfoil Series, which is a trophy we would really love to win."
Toyana, in his first season at the helm at the "Bullring", said that it may be a bit tricky for his side to switch to four-day mode, but he was banking on his experienced core to make sure that it happened quickly.
"We have a lot of experience, guys who have done it many times before, and I am sure they will get the youngsters in the right frame of mind. We are just really keen to get out there and perform again."
The bizhub Highveld Lions' successes this season have attracted the attention of the national selectors, and they will go into the clash against the Chevrolet Warriors without Quinton de Kock, Aaron Phangiso and Chris Morris, who are all on national duty.
"It's great when the guys get picked, and we are very happy for them. We have a few guys in the Strikers team (the Gauteng provincial side) who are keen to make the step up, and that's very encouraging because you need good depth to get through a season successfully," Toyana added.
