The Canberra Cavalry have fallen foul of Australian Baseball League scheduling, but starting pitcher Tristan Crawford believes his side can overcome the odds and charge into the playoffs.
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The Cavalry need to win its four-game series with the Sydney Blue Sox in Blacktown starting on Thursday night and they hope they receive a favour from arch rivals the Perth Heat.
The Heat - sitting in second and all but guaranteed a playoff berth - host the third-placed Brisbane Bandits in a four-game series, with the Bandits sitting one game ahead of the Cavalry.
The Cavalry and the Blue Sox have identical 20-22 season records, behind the Bandits (21-21) and Heat (24-20), while the Adelaide Bite (29-15) will host the championship series.
The ABL has made the ludicrous decision not to replay two games that were washed out between the Cavalry and the Bandits, and the Blue Sox and the Melbourne Aces.
One idea was for the Cavalry to face the Bandits in Sydney on Monday and Tuesday next week if it would affect the playoffs, but that proposal was scrapped.
The Cavalry have a 4-2 advantage over the Bandits in the season split, but trail the Blue Sox 5-3 in games between the teams.
Crawford believes the team is up for the challenge and can overcome the loss of star shortshop Christian Lopes, who suffered a season-ending hamstring injury and has returned to the US.
"The team we have is all the way round," Crawford said.
"We have the bats, we have the pitching staff - unfortunately what sort of killed us a little bit is we had the rainouts against Brisbane, we were on a roll there.
"I think we can make the playoffs."
Outfielder Anthony Alford has been cleared to play, while Crawford and first baseman LB Dantzler are both doubtful of taking their places in the line-up.
Crawford left last Sunday's game in the fourth inning after hyperextending his knee.
"I just twisted my knee on the mound, and as it looks now I'm hopeful of playing this weekend," he said.
"I heard a pop and couldn't put pressure on it."
Game one starts at 7.30pm at Blacktown International Sportspark.
