UNIVERSITY will be boosted by the return of wicket-keeper/batsman Andrew Harriott for their heavyweight last-round clash with Wallsend, starting at University Oval on Saturday.
Harriott missed Uni's outright win against Newcastle City last round because he was attending his cousin's wedding, and the Students will welcome his glovework and prolific run-making ability in a game that could make or break their finals hopes.
Competition leaders Wallsend (61 points) are the only team guaranteed a berth in the play-offs and will wrap up the minor premiership if they can beat second-placed Uni (57 points).
Uni can also finish on top of the table if they are victorious against the Tigers, but a loss could leave them in a precarious position.
Third-placed Wests (55 points) can overtake Uni if they beat Belmont, while fourth-placed Merewether (52 points) and fifth-placed Hamilton-Wickham (50 points) are both in striking distance if they can win outright against lowly Waratah-Mayfield and Newcastle City respectively.
In other words, when stumps are pulled after the last regular-season two-dayer, Uni could be minor premiers ... or also-rans.
"It just shows how close the competition is, really," Harriott said.
"So, yeah, it is a big game, for sure, but it's not something we need to talk about.
"It's the pointy end of the season and we need to win every game from here.
"We just need to turn up on Saturday and play our best cricket."
Harriott's return will improve Uni's chances of doing that.
The former Melbourne Renegade has scored 548 first-grade runs this season at an average of 68.50, which includes innings of 206, 122 not out and 95 not out.
Only Wallsend's Jacob Montgomery, with 644 runs at 92, has scored more in Saturday games this season.
Both teams will enter the top-of-the-table battle in peak form. Uni have won five straight games, including last week's outright against City, while Wallsend have won six on the spin and took maximum points against Waratah last week.
"We haven't played them this year, but they're obviously playing good cricket," Harriott said.
"But we're playing well, too. Our last loss was prior to Christmas, against Waratah, and it was probably the wake-up call we needed."
Harriott's return will offset the departure of English import Calum Haggett, who has returned for pre-season training with Kent.
Haggett, who has played more than 100 first-team games for Kent across all three formats, linked with Uni in January for a guest stint, appearing in four first-grade matches and two Summer Bash fixtures.
** NEWCASTLE'S Jason Sangha has bounced back after his omission from the NSW Sheffield Shield side to plunder more runs from an English touring team.
Sangha scored 85 this week for a NSW XI against the England Lions at Wollongong's North Dalton Oval, barely a fortnight after he posted 72 against the same opposition in Hobart.
The former Australian under-19 skipper has developed a taste for English bowling since his milestone century in an Ashes warm-up match in Townsville two summers ago. Representing a Cricket Australia XI against an attack featuring Test quicks Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes and spinner Moeen Ali, Sangha made 133.
At the time, Sangha was aged 18 years and 71 days and became the youngest player to score a century against England since Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, who was 17 years and 107 days when he made an unbeaten 119 at Old Trafford in 1990.
In Wollongong, the Lions were spearheaded by four-Test paceman Craig Overton.
Sangha, incidentally, appears to have been the victim of an unusual case of mistaken identity in last week's Shield win against South Australia.
After scoring five in the first innings, Sangha did not bat in the second ... or did he?
Leading website espncricinfo.com had him 11 not out when NSW declared, but cricket.com.au gave those runs to Matthew Gilkes.
Cricket NSW confirmed it was Gilkes at the crease. Given he is a left-hander, it's hard to see how there was any confusion.
** NDCA officials spoke too soon.
Less than a week after congratulating players on an incident-free season, the judiciary has been forced to hand out its first suspension.
Charlestown opening bowler Aaron Payne will miss his team's last-round clash with Cardiff after pleading guilty to dissent.
It is understood Payne snatched his hat from the umpire during his team's clash with Stockton and was subsequently reported.
He copped a one-game ban.
** MEREWETHER are on track to clinch their first club championship since the 2014-15 season.
The Lions (747 points) lead from Uni (717), Charlestown (695) and Wests (674).
Merewether's top three grades are all in the top four heading into the last round, and their fourth grade are sixth, three points adrift of the top four.
** HAMWICKS made it a hat-trick of Masters titles with their convincing victory in the over-35 T20 decider against Toronto at Ron Hill Oval last week.
Hamwicks skipper Kirk Mullard, with 57 retired, launched the visitors to a healthy 5-145 after winning the toss and batting.
Mullard then grabbed 2-22 from four overs to help restrict Toronto to 9-120 in reply.
** WALLSEND'S Cooper Lennox broke a club fielding record last round with six catches in the outright win against Waratah.
Lennox, who often keeps wicket for the Tigers, moved to first slip and latched onto three chances in each innings.
Wallsend's previous best in first grade was five catches by Gary Holding in 1976-77.
