For Kookaburras captain Cameron Milne, multiple narratives are being played out in his side's key clash against Albion at Wolseley Oval.
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They include the table position: if Kookaburras reel off the 76 runs needed to beat Albion on Saturday, Milne believes that Mornington would need a "huge" outright win over Kookaburras in their final-round clash next weekend to deny his side a spot in the semi-final on March 9-10, for the chance to progress to the final.
Kookaburras will resume at 4-55, chasing 130, on Saturday.
Crucially, Milne is 20 not out.
The skipper also said a defeat of Albion would be a "confidence builder", as it would be Kookaburras' first win over Albion in 2018-19, and would mean that Kookaburras had beaten all three sides in a season for the first time in "probably three seasons".
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Milne would be "bitterly disappointed" if Kookaburras did not get the points on Saturday.
"It does put us in a good [table] position if we do get first-innings points," he said.
"But more so for the boy's confidence - that's what I'm more worried about.
"If we can get over the line, well, that proves to all of them that we can beat any side on any given day."
Milne said he was "proud" of his team's improvement this season, including his bowlers' discipline last Saturday.
"Our bowling was pretty good," he said.
"We could of probably got them out a bit cheaper if things had of gone our way.
"They hit a lot of balls in the air that landed in between fielders.
"And we just kept hanging in there bowling the same lines.
"Whereas probably last year and earlier in the year those boys would have gone straight to trying to get a wicket, rather than just play the patience game."
"With a couple of wickets less would have been ideal, but where we're at is not too bad," he added.
Joining Milne at the crease on Saturday will be Braithen Winsor (13 not out).
Milne is having a season to savour, scoring a competition-best 494 runs in 11 innings prior to this match, at an average of 70.57. He has cracked six 50s.
"It's still a team game," he said. "It's not just me that needs to make runs [on Saturday].
"It's the next five batsmen after Braith and myself."
"We've got Shayne Riordan coming back in, so that will strengthen our batting lineup," he added.
"Plus the young lads who have been improving throughout the year."
At Kitchener Park, Mornington will resume at 9-79, chasing Court House's 164.
