Ballarat-Redan captain Chris Egan is hopeful more games under his developing players' belts will hold the Two Swords in good stead heading into the new season.
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Egan's side has flirted with a finals place in recent seasons but has struggled to string together consistent results.
With another season of one-dayers on the horizon and growth within the group, the Two Swords' skipper was confident his side could rise to the challenge.
"I think white-ball cricket suits us," Egan said.
"It can be a long day in the field, and we don't have big wicket-taking options. So to be able to create pressure in an environment where you need to be scoring at a quicker rate suits us.
"We don't mind the red ball, but we're pretty happy with a one-day season."
It's been a peculiar pre-season for Ballarat-Redan, even without the COVID complications.
Developments at Alfredton Oval have kept the nets at the club's home base out of action for a couple of months.
"It was a bit tough just trying to find nets where we can, but the boys have made the most of it. We're shaping up pretty well," Egan said.
"We're still a pretty young group, so professionalism and intensity is someone we're improving on year-on-year."
Ballarat-Redan has navigated the off-season with few personnel changes.
Kyle Hayes has joined from Brown Hill to bolster the bowling stocks, offsetting the losses of Ryan Aikman to Geelong's Premier side and Sam Hope to Melbourne.
Quick Nathan Patriekos stays with the club, looking to build on a 22-wicket campaign last season.
"He's a good wicket-taker, so we try and utilise him throughout the innings to really take wickets. (Then) we try and clamp down the other end," Egan said.
"We're young, so we're a really good fielding side. We put a lot of emphasis on creating pressure through dot balls.
"Generally, we're a clamp-down side. We're still developing our batting; we fell 30-to-40 runs short in a lot of our games last season. So, we're trying to find some consistency across the board."
The Two Swords scored 2703 runs last season, resigning them to the middle of the pack.
Of concern, only three of Ballarat-Redan's regulars had an average in the mid-to-late-20s.
Egan was confident experience would be the answer to a lot of the side's woes.
"A lot of guys get themselves to 10 or 15 and they're not kicking on because they're losing their concentration," he said.
"It's something we're working really hard but you just need time in the middle and games under your belt."
LOOKING BACK
Ballarat-Redan's 2020-21 season
7th (7 wins, 1 tie, 8 losses)
2703 runs scored (6th)
11 half-centuries (5th=), 2 centuries (2nd=)
2704 runs conceded (1st)
116 wickets (9th)
27.34 average runs per wicket (7th)
4.56 average economy (7th)
113 maidens (5th)