THE Hamilton and District Cricket Club (HDCA) senior representative team faces a tough test tomorrow when it goes up against Warrnambool and District Cricket Association at Monivae in the Festival of Cricket final.

The Hurricanes qualified for the decider with a thumping win against Wimmera Mallee last month, but tomorrow’s match-up is set to be a much tougher task.

Hamilton coach, Nic Cullinane said he wasn’t able to get the exact team he wanted, but still backed in the group to perform well.

“The problem is you had to have played a game to qualify, there was quite a few players who couldn’t play a game and the ones who had played played weren’t available this weekend,” he said.

“I was very keen to get a representative from each club, but Rick Killey’s unavailability and Anthony Close’s wedding this weekend meant both Casterton District and Pigeon Ponds have missed out.”

With much of the team made up of talented juniors, it is also a chance for them to face a strong opposition in a high-pressure game.

Cullinane said they have done the job already this season and was expecting another positive performance from the group.

“We are playing young up and comers, we backed them in up in Horsham and we beat Wimmera Mallee,” he said.

“It is the future of the HDCA, obviously we will be up against it against Warrnambool, but it is a great effort for us to even qualify for the final.

“Warrnambool plays in the top division down at Melbourne Country Week and the players will get to see the standard required.

“I am impressed with the level of talent and a lot of the juniors coming through are pushing up to be ready-made cricketers when the association returns to Melbourne Country Week in 2023.

“Country week is a pathway for players here to test themselves and it is a big step up to becoming a district player.”

Hamilton does go into the game without left arm quick, Angus Harms, who has failed to get up from an achilles injury from the last representative game, as the locals back in the spinners in the side to do the bulk of the damage with the ball.

“Russell Elton, Brandon Weatherson and Ollie Wortley gives us plenty of options,” Cullinane said.

“We also want people to come down and have a look.

“Come along and have a look at the best talent in the association together in the same team.”