Napoleons-Sebastopol coach Dan Davies backs a host of experienced recruits and the benefit of continuity to lead his side's push to return to the top half of the Ballarat Cricket Association.
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It was a tough 2020-21 season, with only three wins to celebrate en route to the wooden spoon.
It was a third last-place finish in a row for a proud club which only played finals five years ago.
But, with most of the list staying put and some new faces coming on board, Davies was confident Naps-Sebas could re-capture its best form.
"We've had really good numbers to pre-season sessions. It's just been about doing what we can to prepare as best we can for the start of the season.
"It's gone as well as we could've hoped, but, obviously, it's difficult for everyone at the moment."
"As far as this year goes it's just about continuing (building a sense of) professionalism and raising standards. (It's about) putting higher expectations on players and those types of things.
"Last year we were young, so a lot of our improvement across the board will come from those young guys getting more experience and developing as players.
"I'm really excited about a lot of the young players we have, not just necessarily the ones playing firsts."
The arrival of former Brown Hill best-and-fairest Viraj Pushpakumara will provide an immediate boost to the charge.
The spin bowling all-rounder had first class experience in his native Sri Lanka and claimed 303 runs and 17 wickets last season.
Joining Pushpakumara in moving to Naps-Sebas are pace duo Jacob Coxall and Sam Hill.
Coxall crosses from North Ballarat in the search of more first team action, while university student Hill has committed to staying over the summer.
A visit to training with a friend is also likely to see recruit Jacob Ramsey cement his spot at the top of the order.
Ramsey previously played Diamond Creek's 1st XI in the Melbourne-based Diamond Valley Cricket Association.
Davies tipped the recruits to strengthen an already well-rounded unit.
"We're a side with a lot of all-rounders. In our top six, three of those guys are also probably our best three bowlers," Davies said.
"We're probably going to be a side which bats deeps, which is obviously benefical.
"We've got some really good spin bowlers as well. So, our key will batting deep and variation with our bowling. There are things we want to want to do well in one-day cricket with both bat and ball. There are key focuses and a way we want to play."
LOOKING BACK
Napoleons-Sebastopol's 2020-21 season
10th (3 wins, 2 losses)
2354 runs scored (9th)
9 half-centuries (7th), 0 centuries (10th)
2985 runs conceded (6th)
101 wickets (9th=)
33.95 average runs per wicket (9th)
4.076 average economy (9th)
71 maidens (9th)