After two rounds, the Hawks and Redbacks have had one win and a bye to be the only undefeated teams in pool A.

The winner of tonight's clash will be well-placed to secure a top-two berth and a place in next month's semi-finals.

Eaglehawk club captain Jason Abbott said the Hawks are keen to challenge for the T20 trophy.

"We're taking the opportunity to play some young guys in the side. For older blokes like me and Andrew Smith the T20 game is past us,'' Abbott said.

"It's great to give some younger guys a taste of it, but at the same time we want to win.

"We played some good cricket to defeat Golden Square in our first game and now we have another tough game against Bendigo United."

The Borough will be without marquee player Tarek Moughanie.

The Greenvale all-rounder played in the win over Golden Square, but will miss the game against BUCC.

Abbott said Moughanie was a likely starter in next Tuesday's clash with Kangaroo Flat.

Bendigo United defeated Sandhurst in a super over in its only T20 match this summer.

Like the Hawks, the Redbacks are using the T20 competition to blood some youth.

Tonight's other pool A match will see Sandhurst host Golden Square.

In pool B, Huntly North Epsom can all but guarantee a semi-final berth if it defeats Strathfieldsaye.

The Power have won their two previous T20 games this summer and a third win should be enough to make the semi-finals.

Strathfieldsaye has split its opening two matches and must win tonight to stay in semi-final contention.

White Hills is in the same boat when it takes on Strathdale-Maristians at Bell Oval. The Demons lost their only match to Huntly North Epsom.

It will be a tough task tonight against a powerful Strathdale line-up that has been further strengthened by the signing of Richmond's Sam Taylor.

The Premier Cricket veteran made 33 off 28 balls and claimed three wickets in the Suns' win over Strathfieldsaye last month.

Tonight's draw: Eaglehawk v Bendigo United at Canterbury Park, Sandhurst v Golden Square at J.L. King Weeroona Oval, Huntly North Epsom v Golden Square at Poyser Motors Oval, Strathdale-Maristians v White Hills at Bell Oval.

Round four matches will be played next Tuesday night, while the final round of preliminary matches are scheduled for January 14. The semi-finals will be played as a double-header at the QEO on Sunday, January 19.