The ACT Comets' batting order is desperate to take the pressure off captain David Dawson and get among the runs to open their account in the Futures League.
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The Comets will be searching for an improved performance from their top six when they take on Western Australia in a four-day game starting on Monday at Fremantle.
Dawson was a shining light in the side's 40-run loss to Queensland in its first game of the season, the former Tasmania and NSW first-class player showing all his class with knocks of 143 not out and 86.
Comets batsman Dean Solway is keen to make amends after being dismissed cheaply in both innings, but has regained form in the Gallop Cup with Queanbeyan, scoring an unbeaten 45 in an eight-wicket win against Tuggeranong on Saturday.
Solway said it was up to the entire batting line-up to carry their weight and not just rely on Dawson to shoulder the bulk of the scoring.
"We're all pretty keen to turn it around, especially the batsmen, it was pretty much just Dawso that got us a good total in the last game and a few of the bowlers," Solway said.
"Our batsmen are pretty keen to turn it around and score the bulk of the runs for us.
"We just need a few more to put their hand up to bat around him."
Solway is just one of three players from the Canberra first-grade competition in the Comets team.
The others are Eastlake duo Michael Spaseski and last season's Futures League player of the year Vele Dukoski, while fast bowler Josh Bennett is 12th man.
Weston Creek Molonglo batsman Kevin Jacob - who made his Comets debut against Queensland - is unavailable with year 12 HSC exams.
Opening batsman Matthew Condon and spinner Shane Devoy, who previously played for Wests/UC and Tuggeranong respectively, are now both with Easts in the Sydney grade competition.
A partnership between Cricket ACT and Cricket NSW has led to an influx of players who have links to country NSW into the Comets team to gain exposure in the national second XI competition.
"We're all very understanding of that and I know myself, I'm under the pump to score a few runs this week," Solway said.
"Not that I'm putting pressure on myself, but that's just how it is now.
"It's obviously a little bit harder to get a game with the Sydney guys, but it makes our team that much stronger and it's benefited our cricket."
