The side has beaten both Armidale SportsPower and Ace-Buttercup in the first two rounds but will have to do without allrounder Matt Schaefer tonight.

Schaefer is away at a wedding and misses not only this game but tomorrow’s top-of-the-table Armidale first grade clash for Hillgrove against Armidale City as well as Sunday’s War Veterans Cup Final for Armidale against Tamworth.

While he’s away, Schaefer is hoping his three sides can win.

Schaefer, who scored his second T20 century last week for ADDA Constructions, believes the Steve Butler-skippered Moxon’s Bakery presents a tough match after Armidale SportsPower and Ace-Buttercup start proceedings with their 5.30pm game.

He said Moxon’s Bakery’s Ben Hanlan might be one of the key wickets tonight.

“We need to get rid of him early,” he said.

“He’s a very good hockey player too and has a good eye.”

Hanlan topscored for Moxon’s Bakery with 23 last Friday night in its two-run win over a SportsPower side spearheaded by Steve Haydon.

The Hillgrove first grade seamer took 4-17 against Moxon’s.

“He’s been bowling really well all season,” Schaefer said.

“He mixes his pace and is a real handful in T20.

“He also bowled well for us against Easts last Saturday. 

“He had 3-9 early and then came back despite bowling with a niggling injury.”

Haydon will be a key player for Hillgrove in tomorrow’s top-of-the- table clash against an Armidale City side which leapfrogged Hillgrove to the top of the first grade table with its  big win over Ex-Services while Hillgrove had a shocker with the bat against Easts.

“We were poor,”  skipper Brad King said.

“Pathetic. We bowled well but we let ourselves down with the bat.

“We had no excuses – we  had them 5-47 and they made 190.”

Losing Schaefer for tomorrow’s first grade game as well as Sunday’s War Veterans Cup final against Tamworth is a major blow, he said.