It would have been easy for the Sydney Thunder to pack up their kit bags and say "it's just not our season". Again.
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But that's not how coach Shane Bond's side operates - he'd know, because the nature of their close games suggests his cardiologist is going to get a workover.
The Thunder had dropped three games on the bounce and lost spinner Chris Green to a suspension for an illegal bowling action.
But now Bond says his side will ride a wave of confidence into their clash with the Melbourne Renegades at Manuka Oval on Wednesday night.
Sydney reignited their campaign with a stellar run chase against the Hobart Hurricanes over the weekend and the timing could not have been better.
"When we talked at the start of the season, we said there are always going to be challenges," Bond said.
"Obviously you're going to be challenged with umpiring decisions, with weather, with things like what has happened to Chris Green.
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"You can either let that overwhelm you, or you can just get on and face the task at hand. We speak a lot about that and it's a credit to the boys.
"We had three losses in a row and some tough stuff happening with Chris, and then to bounce back and put in a tough run chase is a hell of a good performance.
"I'm really pleased. We've had a number of close finishes, and when you start winning ones like that, then it's good for the team."
A loss on Saturday night could have seen Sydney slide as low as seventh on the table - but instead they find themselves entrenched in the finals picture.
Bond says it allows the Thunder to relax a little bit more rather than stressing about falling into a must-win phase for the remainder of the competition.
You can either let that overwhelm you, or you can just get on and face the task at hand.
- Shane Bond on challenges in the BBL
They will do so with the competition's leading wicket-taker Daniel Sams (17 scalps) and fifth-ranked run scorer Callum Ferguson (295) leading the way.
But Bond has stressed the Thunder cannot afford to take the Renegades lightly despite their forgettable campaign to date.
"Now we go into a Renegades team who no doubt will be hungry having had a tough campaign so far. We're going to have to be on our game," Bond said.
"They've still got class players. They played the top team the other night and they'll probably admit they probably should have won the game.
"You can't take anyone lightly regardless of who is in or out. We're going to have to be on top of our game. It would be nice to win with some breathing space because my cardiologist is going to get worked over."