City Colts’ A grade side feel early wickets will be the diffrence as they search to get on the board back at Bill O’Callaghan Oval against Ovens Valley this Saturday.

The men in baby blue put up respectable totals in their games against Wangaratta and Yarrawonga Mulwala but ultimately leaked too many runs with their opponents passing scores of more than 220.

City Colts boast a new look lineup this season following the departures of Nanson brothers Josh and Tyler and have turned to promising youth to fill the holes including the likes of Alasdair Brett, Jed Marek and Connor Ormond.

Stepping in as the team’s new skipper this season, Aaron Thrum said it had been a rewarding personal experience leading his younger teammates, many of whom he had coached in under 12s and under 14s.

“We’ve had our moments with the bat, we were two balls away last week from batting all of our overs, which was a goal we have set this year, so that’s a huge plus for us,” he said.

“We haven’t put 45 overs together with the ball yet, but you expect some lapses with a young team, and we’ll get there with more time in the middle.”

Ovens Valley will be in the way of City Colts and their first win of the season, with their marquee imports Geeth Alwis and Joel Jordan set to be a handful with both bat and ball in hand.

The Tigers were comprehensive winners in their opening game against Beechworth and had the week off last week.

Thrum said building early pressure in the field and getting on the front foot early would be a focus for his side as they look to continue their momentum making runs.

“I feel like we’ve just been an early wicket away from putting pressure on the batting side and making it a close game,” he said.

“There’s no real bad team in this competition and none of our boys are backing away from the challenge.

“We really want to prove we just won’t be easy beats just because we’re young.”

Will Peterson will come into the starting 11 after excelling in B grade last week with Thrum hoping he would sure up the top of the order.

Ovens Valley captain Seamus Phillips along with Dylan Bursill and Jordan filled in with the shorthanded A reserve team last week.

Phillips said he felt it was important to build on momentum established in their opening game.

“Against Beechworth, the top of the order got starts; we have a bit to work on the middle of the order but that will come with time in the middle, I’ve got faith in everyone who bats in that top eight or nine to make runs this year,” he said.

“We were good with the ball for the whole 40 overs, we hit our lines and lengths perfect and we just want to take that into this week.”

Phillips said the team certainly wouldn’t be underestimating the young City Colts side and the batting abilities they have shown in their outings so far this season.

“We’ve got to put a good score on the board if we bat first and then hopefully get the job done with the ball,” he said.

Phillips said his starting 11 would most likely remain unchanged from their round one victory.

First ball will be bowled at 12:30pm.