Geelong City skipper Richard Oliver is looking forward to "two massive games" before Christmas in the race to win the Geelong Cricket Association Division One title.
City, who are currently lying second in the table, entertain third placed North Geelong in a two-day game starting this weekend and concluding on December 13.
Then in the final match before the festive season, Oliver's side visit current leaders East Belmont for 50 over clash on December 20.
Worcestershire opener Oliver led his side to a winning draw against Bell Post Hill last weekend after scoring 82.
Oliver said: "We couldn't get the outright win but it was pleasing to get points in the bag as we look forward to two massive games before Christmas.
"We will be up against two powerhouses in North Geelong and East Belmont.
"We are well placed in second position and have nothing to fear, but we are certainly wary of the threats both sides pose to us as we head towards the halfway mark."
Oliver is certainly leading by example as captain and tops the Geelong batting averages for two-day and 50 over matches.
He has scored 361 runs in six knocks at an average of 60.17 with one century and three other 50 plus scores.
Oliver has scored more than double the runs of the next highest scorer in Thomas Elliot who has 171 at an average of 34.20.
CURRENT TABLE
P W2 W1 D L1 L2 WKTS LOST RUNS FOR WKTS TAKEN RUNS AGST POINTS PTS RATIO %
1 East Belmont 6 0 6 0 0 0 36 1481 52 1092 36 6.000 1.9590
2 Geelong City 5 0 4 0 1 0 26 925 45 938 24 4.800 1.7068
3 North Geelong 6 0 4 0 2 0 44 1160 59 1068 24 4.000 1.4564
4 South Barwon 6 0 3 0 3 0 42 1340 58 1543 18 3.000 1.1993
5 St Josephs 6 0 3 0 3 0 43 1211 54 1387 18 3.000 1.0965
6 Geelong West 6 0 3 0 3 0 49 1369 39 1173 18 3.000 0.9289
7 Bell Post Hill 5 0 3 0 2 0 44 843 38 815 18 3.600 0.8933
8 Murgheboluc 6 0 3 0 3 0 62 1388 45 1315 18 3.000 0.7661
9 Grovedale 6 0 2 1 3 0 52 1184 56 1401 15 2.500 0.9101
10 Lara 6 0 2 1 3 0 59 1223 47 1195 15 2.500 0.8153
11 Leopold 6 0 1 0 5 0 60 1092 49 1266 6 1.000 0.7044
12 Newtown & Chilwell 6 0 0 0 6 0 58 1366 33 1389 0 0.000 0.5595
W2: Won on second innings (outright win); W1: Won on first innings; D: Draw or Tie; L1: Lost on first innings; L2: Lost on second innings (outright loss)
