SANDFORD are under pressure to take a win off Sidmouth at Creedy Park to move clear of the Premier drop zone.
The alternative is a last-day nail-biter when Sandford go to Exmouth and current bottom two North Devon and Torquay play each other.
The fear for Sandford is either Torquay or North Devon – or both – could do enough in the last two games to go past them.
Richard Foan, the skipper who led Sandford to safety from a similar position last season, knows how to end the uncertainty.
“It is all in our hands at the moment: two wins and we stay up,” said Foan.
“We managed to avoid it on the final day of the season last year with a win that stopped Heathcoat winning the league.
“We outplayed top-of-the-table Heathcoat for most of last week so if we can play the same way we can give Sidmouth a good game.
“All points are vital at this stage so we will be fighting for every one.”
Second team captain Shaun Hawkins is promoted back into the 1st XI after taking four wickets and scoring 51 and 98 in his last two outings.
Sandford did Sidmouth a huge favour last season by defeating Heathcoat on the final day to deny them the title and pass it to Sidmouth instead.
Sidmouth paid fulsome tributes to Sandford in general and Foan in particular across social media at the time, but club captain Nick Gingell said the appreciation stopped there.
“Part of us feels like we owe Foany and Sandford a favour after how he helped us last year but, of course, in sport there are no favours and the boys will be going all out to win with second place up for grabs.”
Turning to champs-elect Heathcoat, Gingell added: ““I would like to congratulate Heathcoat who have been by far and away the most consistent side in the league.”
Sidmouth seamer Will Murray is away with work so Jordan Fowler gets another chance to impress.
Batter Isaac Thomas also gets a go (debut) to bat in the top order to see what he can do after years of accumulating runs in the 2nd XI.
“Rory Thomas misses out and will surely form one of the most destructive opening partnerships in the 2nd XI with Matt Cooke,” said Gingell.
Rumours abound that some of Sidmouth’s senior players are making plans for 2020 that do not include 1stXI cricket.
If that is the case then Gingell’s closing comments make perfect sense.””
Once again the dynamic of the team is partly based around looking to the future and seeing what people can do at that level.
“Having said that if we win both our remaining games then we could still finish second, which would be an achievement given what has gone on this year.”
