BENDIGO United captain Leigh McDermott says the Redbacks are confident they can remain a finals threat in the Bendigo District Cricket Association this season.The Redbacks – who have played in five of the past six grand finals – have been tipped to be one of the sliders of the BDCA this season after losing a wealth of experience.However, new skipper McDermott says his expectations of the Redbacks are to again push for what would be a ninth-consecutive finals berth.“Obviously, everyone who is playing has a goal of finals cricket and ours is no different,” McDermott said yesterday.“There has been a lot said about our departures and a lot of negative talk around us at the moment, but we’re trying to block that out and just concentrate on the positives, and last Saturday was certainly a positive in starting with a win over Sandhurst.“We’ve got a group of guys together now that will play in the ones for the majority of the year who are a younger group, and that in itself is pretty exciting.“Hopefully, we can forge a team that can not only be successful this year, but in future years as well.”The Redbacks opened their season with a 15-run win over Sandhurst at Harry Trott Oval last Saturday and after round one fill the familiar position of sitting on top of the ladder.This weekend they face the BDCA’s biggest test when they take on reigning premier Strathdale-Maristians, which started its flag defence last Saturday with a 34-run win over Golden Square.Bendigo United and Strathdale-Maristians have met in the past two grand finals – the Redbacks winning by one run in 2010; the Suns by 94 runs last season.“Strathdale is the reigning premier and everyone is going to be out to knock them off this year, so that’s the pressure they are going to have,” McDermott said.“They are the benchmark, so we’ll be looking forward to seeing how we go against them.“Our games against Maristians are always pretty keenly fought.“ There’s guys on both teams who are good mates outside of cricket, so there’s always that extra spice in games between BUCCs and Maristians, and I’m sure this week will be no different.”Showing just how significant the turnover of players has been at the Redbacks, gone from last season’s grand final team are Heath Behrens, Andrew Powell, Chris Pinniger and Ricky Mannix. With Behrens not playing at the moment, the No.3 position he has scored most of his 21 centuries in was filled last weekend by 18-year-old Harry Donegan.“It is different not having Heath there, but as we’ve said to Harry, he is the future and if he can grab hold of his chance at No.3, he could be the next Heath Behrens,” McDermott said.This weekend’s round two games: Strathdale-Maristians v Bendigo United, White Hills v Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye v Huntly-North Bendigo, Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk v Sandhurst.