THE Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) A grade season resumes today with many of the clubs impacted by the current COVID outbreak in the region.

College will sit out an extra week, due to a round 12 bye, while three games are set to get 2022 underway.

Hamilton v Grampians

THE Blues will host the Pumas at Dahl Turf in a game the Blues must win to stay in the top two.

Hamilton will be without some key personnel including leading run-scorer, Tobi Cook, along with skipper, Brandon Weatherson, as Simon Sharrock steps into the leadership role.

Dylan Spong has been called up to the top grade, as the likes of Hamish Kearney and Caleb Millard will need to have big days with ball in hand if the home side is to grab the win.

Grampians is fielding one of its strongest sides of the season and will be full of confidence going into the clash, with a win set to move the sixth-placed visitors closer to the top four and into finals contention, keeping their back-to-back Dundas Cup hopes alive.

Macarthur v Casterton District

THE Maroons will make the trek to Macarthur Recreation Reserve in hopes of upsetting the Demons and starting the new year off on a winning note.

It has been a tough season for Casterton District, but the home side will be no easy beat.

The Demons have a balanced side and the likes of Matt Timms and Ollie Wortley can shape the game with bat and ball, while Kyle Smitten will be chasing early wickets as well.

Macarthur is only inside the top four by a single point and will need to win well to ease the pressure and cement its spot in the top half of the ladder.

The home side will once again miss Jeremy Sheehan through injury for the first game back after the break.

The Maroons have just one win to date and go into the clash without Rick Killey, meaning others will need to step up if the team is to grab a morale-building win away from home.

Pigeon Ponds v St Andrew’s

THE Drews will start 2022 with a trip north to face ladder leaders, Pigeon Ponds, in an important clash for both sides.

The home side sits clear on top, while the visitors will be desperate to create winning momentum as soon as possible and push back into finals contention.

Ponds go into the game full of confidence and have plenty of firepower with bat and ball to utilise, while the Drews are missing a few and will need to dig deep if they are to grab the points away from home.

Peter Staude knows the Ponds bat deep and the team is known for playing an aggressive style, as he and Simon Close will no doubt look to set a strong foundation at the top of the order.

Early wickets are key for the Drews, and if they can break into the middle order and restrict the boundaries, then the visitors will be hopeful of chasing down the target.