Big Bash hopeful Michael Spaseski hopes taking on the ACT Comets captaincy can help ignite his season as he searches for the century-scoring form that put him on the national Twenty20 radar 12 months ago.
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As Canberra officials launch their bid to host Big Bash games in the 2016-17 season, Spaseski wants to show he has what it takes to play in the most popular format of the game.
Runs were coming easy for the Eastlake star a year ago, smashing five centuries and finishing the season with an average of 73 that put him on the cusp of a Big Bash call-up.
However, the runs have dried up so far this season and he has failed to record a century in the Cricket ACT competition and fight his way back into form.
The ultimate goal is to force his way into a Big Bash squad and follow the path paved by Jono Dean, Alex Ross, Jason Floros and Ryan Carters.
But at the back of his mind is hanging around in the cricket ranks long enough to be a part of Canberra's inaugural Big Bash team if Cricket Australia decides to expand to the capital.
"I haven't changed anything, it was just a purple patch for me last season where everything seemed to go right. And when that happens you try to prolong it for as long as you can," Spaseski said.
"When you're not in that purple patch you've got to work hard to get back there. I'm hitting it well; it's just a matter of spending some time out there.
"The Big Bash is one of my biggest goals personally, it's definitely on the cards. You've got to keep performing and put your name out there. It's pretty simple in that regard.
"There have been plenty of Canberra guys who have taken that step to the Big Bash, so that shows [the teams] are looking to regional areas like here."
Cricket ACT hopes to secure the rights to host Big Bash teams next season, with Cricket Australia set to add more games instead of expanding the number of teams in the competition.
The ACT government is also working with Cricket Australia to gain the rights to host a Test match at Manuka Oval in the coming years.
Spaseski will step into the Comets' captaincy duties for their Futures League clash against Western Australia at Manuka Oval, starting next Monday.
He takes the reins after being overlooked for the first representative game of the season and will be the most senior figure in a team missing regular captain Aidan Blizzard, Dean, Blake Dean and young gun Henry Hunt.
His bid to get back to his damaging best starts when Eastlake plays Queanbeyan on Saturday and Sunday in a two-day fixture at Kingston Oval.
Spaseski's best knock of the 2015-16 summer came in a Comets match, scoring 145 not out as he teamed up with Jono Dean in a 278-run partnership.
"It's definitely a big responsibility to captain the Comets and I'm looking forward to it," Spaseski said.
"You've got to get the win and points for the ACT and obviously I have to get results as an individual to help the team."
The Comets have made four changes to their side, with Mac Wright, Kerrod White, Tom Rogers and Dean Solway all coming into the team.
Wright is making his Futures League debut after a stint with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash.
Stand-in coach Kyle Piper said: "I think some of our young guys have a great opportunity to play against some professional cricketers and put their hand up for higher honours in the future.
"We've always found the jump from club cricket to Futures League is really difficult, so the trial matches [before and after Christmas] were really beneficial."
