Bulls veteran Adam Jones believes that his young skipper Jye Paterson has the potential to "dominate" the competition for many years.
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Jones - who handed the captaincy to Paterson at the start of last season - said the off-spinning allrounder had "led from the front" as Bective East strung together four-straight wins.
The fourth-placed side are expected to secure their first finals berth since 2015-16 when they play second-placed City United in a two-day final-round clash at Riverside 1 on Saturday.
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Opening the batting, Paterson struck a match-winning 64 in the Bulls' crucial win over North Tamworth at No 1 Oval last Saturday. Jones said the innings typified Paterson's continuing improvement as a player and as a leader.
"He's always had the talent as a cricketer," Jones said. "[He] hasn't yet found his full potential, but he's still only 20 years old. And when he finds his true potential, the sky's the limit for Jye, especially in the competition we play in.
"Jye could really dominate this competition for a long time to come, with the talent that he has.
Jones said Paterson's decision "not the shy away" from opening the batting illustrated his leadership chops. That was what you looked for in a captain, he said, with the other players "feeding" off him.
"And I think Jye's starting to realise that - that's what the team's doing," he said, adding that Paterson's innings against Norths may have been a "turning point" for him.
"It wasn't easy for him. He stuck in there, and he did the work, and it was a match-winning innings in the end."
Jones said Paterson and his family - dad Chris, mum Natalie and elder brother Luke - were the "heart and soul" of the Bulls. Luke plays first grade, and Chris plays mainly second grade and some top grade. He is also the Bulls' president, while Natalie scores.
"They're really a huge part of the club," Jones said, adding that Paterson was a "tremendous young man".
This season Paterson has scored 344 runs at an average of 28.67 and taken 12 wickets at 23.33.
With one round remaining before the finals, the Bulls are 12-and-a-half points clear of fifth-placed South Tamworth, who play minor premiers Old Boys at No 1 Oval in the final round.
Jones said "something really drastic" would have to happen for Bective not to make the finals.
At Riverside 2 on Saturday, third-placed North Tamworth and sixth-placed West Tamworth clash.
