Saints skipper Chris Park has warned Finedon Dolben that Aussie ace Jake Fawcett is ‘hungry for runs’ ahead of this weekend’s showdown.
Fawcett, who moved from to Birchfield Road East from Perth during the summer, lit up the premier division earlier in the season.
The batsman blasted 65 on debut against Wellingborough Town and then an unbeaten 151 on his second start, against Burton Latimer.
But he has endured a barren run of late, playing what Park has considered loose shots in the past couple of games.
He could only register 27 in the 148-run win against Brixworth last weekend as it was again left to Alec Swann (101no) and Park (62no) to build a big total for Saints.
But the captain believes this weekend could be the one where Fawcett gets back to his best, with title rivals Finedon set to be on the receiving end.
“Jake Fawcett had two or three great innings at the start of the season and I’m expecting more good things from him, hopefully this weekend,” said Park.
“He’s been playing a lot of cricket and it was a poor shot last weekend but he’s experienced enough to deal with it. He’s got an old head on young shoulders.
“He’s a quality player, a fantastic signing and one for the future. His next score is just around the corner. Jake is hungry for runs.”
Saints are now 33 points clear of second-placed Peterborough, with Finedon a further 14 points behind them.
A win tomorrow would push Park’s men further clear of last year’s champions - and he says the players can’t wait for the game at Avenue Road.
“It’s a huge game again,” said Park, who steered his side to a fine win at Peterborough two weeks ago. “These are the games my players look forward to.
“It’s a good rivalry at Finedon and the players love going there, if only for their ice cream van.”
David Wigley believes the Old Northamptonians youngsters will take a lot of confidence from last year’s wins against Peterborough.
Wigley and co landed a double whammy of successes against Boro during the 2011 campaign, proving they were fully capable of mixing it with the best.
And they will be asked to do it all over again this weekend as they aim to try to break into the top three.
ONs are up to fourth ahehad of a massive three weeks, which sees them clash with Boro, Saints and Finedon.
But Wigley’s men will be full of belief, having given those three sides a real run for their money last summer.
Peterborough may even consider ONs their bogey team as the Billing Road boys recorded a two-run win at Bretton Gate last May and followed it up with a three-wicket victory in the reverse fixture three months later.
Wigley feels his young side, which in personnel terms has changed little during the past year, can take plenty of belief from beating Boro, one of the top sides in the divison, in the recent past.
“I’m sure our younger lads will take a lot of confidence from that,” said Wigley.
“It’s just a case of knowing our game this weekend, the lads have learnt a lot.
“I don’t think Peterborough will be worried about us, they’ll just be massively competitive. Players like Paul McMahon and Ajaz Akhtar will square up to us.
“We’ve just got to tick the games off as they come because we’ve got three big games on the trot now.”
And Wigley, who starred with bat and ball in last weekend’s 94-run win over Stony Stratford, added: “We’ve got the momentum.
“We’re up to fourth now and we’ll know a lot more about where we stand in a month’s time.”
David Ripley has urged his NCCC Academy squad to be the best of the rest this season.
Ripley guided his young guns to a five-wicket win against Horton House last weekend, a result which leaves them seventh in the standings.
They are now just 23 points behind fourth-placed ONs, with the established top three, Saints, Peterborough and Finedon living up to expectation at the top.
Ripley doesn’t believe there will be much change among the top three so his sights are set on a top-four finish.
And he is hoping the colts can take another step towards that when they take on Stony Stratford on Saturday.
“It’s tight in the middle of the table,” said Ripley. “We’re top of a little group of teams and we’ve got our eye on the ONs.
“It’s nice and competitive.We’ve set ourselves the challenge of being the best of the rest.
“Finedon, Saints and Peteborough will be the top three and it’s a big ask to get amongst them but we usually get stronger towards the second half of the season.”
And he added: “Stony are one of the teams in and around us so if we can beat them we can put some daylight between us and them.”