Golden Square skipper Liam Smith is not hitting the panic button after his side's 0-2 start to the Bendigo District Cricket Association season.
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Last year's runner-up haven't been far off the mark in their opening two games, but have no points to show for it.
Smith was well aware that this round's clash against the league's other winless side White Hills was a must-win for the Dogs.
A 0-3 start would leave little margin for error in a bid to qualify for the finals.
"We see it as a very important game...it would be good to get our first win on the board,'' Smith said.
"It would be good to get that good feeling around the club again."
A batting collapse in tough conditions cost the Dogs against Strathfieldsaye in round one, while they went down narrowly to Bendigo in round two.
"We feel as though we're doing most things right, but we're not doing it consistently enough just yet,'' Smith said.
"We've had a number of batsmen get starts and show some decent form, but then get out.
"The bowling and fielding I can't fault to date, it's been really consistent.
"We're doing a lot of things right, but now we need to put it all together."
Square's opponent White Hills is in a similar boat in terms of not putting everything together.
The Demons' batting has been strong in the first two games, but their bowling has been poor.
Smith said, Strathdale aside, the first XI competition was tight.
"Strathdale is the standout team, but under them it's hard to pick who the other teams will be to make the top four,'' he said.
"It's a week by week thing and you have to play your best cricket to win the game."
Raging flag favourite Strathdale-Maristians travel to Strathfieldsaye for round three.
The Suns had the luxury of strengthening their batting line-up by including young gun James Barri.
With veteran bowler Ryan Haythorpe unavailable, the Suns rewarded 16-year-old Barri for his good form at second XI and under-18 level.
Barri will bat at number six, while James Vlaeminck, Jack Neylon and Daniel Clohesy will cover Haythorpe's overs with the ball.
"We're trying to make sure we reward form as much as possible and James started the season well and had a good pre-season,'' Suns' skipper Ben DeAraugo said.
"We were keen to bring him in and give him an opportunity."
Barri played two first XI games last summer.
DeAraugo was happy with the Suns' start to the season, but was not getting carried away.
"It's been a really good start on the back of a reasonable pre-season,'' he said.
"Kangaroo Flat are a really good side, so it was nice to beat them round one. We backed it up well last game."
The Bendigo versus Kangaroo Flat clash at North Bendigo shapes as the most intriguing game of the round.
The Roos have big expectations this season and this game against a potential fellow semi-finalist is one they'd like to secure.
Like Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo bounced back from a round one defeat to open its account in round two.
The Goers have put themselves on the back foot by losing two or three early wickets in the first two games.
They can't afford to do that again this week against the Roos' quality attack.
Reigning premier Huntly-North Epsom will chase its third-straight win when it hosts Bendigo United.
The plucky Redbacks are unlucky not to be alongside the Power with a 2-0 record after they lost to Sandhurst by one run last week.
Sandhurst will fancy its chances of winning two in a row when it plays the rebuilding Eaglehawk at Weeroona Oval.
After upstaging Bendigo in round one, the Hawks were thumped by Strathdale in round two.
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