Mt Clear is well-versed in finals cricket and knows how intense the looming semi-final against Ballarat-Redan, starting at City Oval tomorrow, could be.

They have only met once in the Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts this season, a two-day bout in round three, and plenty has changed since then.

Mounties' playing-coach Paull Jeffrey said when it came to semi-finals there was no margin for error.

"It doesn't matter where you finish on the ladder, it's probably the hardest game to win, the semi-final, because there's so much at stake," Jeffrey said.

"The best side always wins the grand final because you've got the time if you make mistakes to clean them up.

"In a two-day semi-final, one dominant performance can change a game, and so can a bit of bad luck, like a dropped catch."

Mt Clear and Ballarat-Redan each sport developed well-rounded bowling and batting line-ups.

A sharper bowling attack is a key improvement in both camps since their last meeting.

The Combine have added returned strike bowlers Jarrod Allan and Simon Allan, who have been in dominant form leading into finals, while Mt Clear now has in-form quick Lincoln Blake back in the mix.

Mounties captain Matt Goonan has led his team in another dominant season with the bat.

Combine batsmen have had a solid work-out the past month: the top-order swiftly chased down East Ballarat's 119 tally in a one-dayer, while middle-order bat Lee Brown, 94 runs, and low-order bat Jarrod Allan, 141, revived the Combine on a tough batting wicket a fortnight ago.

Ballarat-Redan captain-coach Shane Skontra said his team was ready for the challenge.

"We're really looking forward to it," Skontra said.

"We're really hoping to play well against them."

Key Combine all-rounder David Sproules also returns to the line-up this week, replacing call-up Justin Marson.

The Mounties made no change in selections last night.