Jed Dickson admits that Charlestown's record at Kahibah Oval doesn't quite match Australia's formidable Test figures at the Gabba, but says the Magpies are looking forward to making the most of three games in a row at home.
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Third-placed Charlestown, coming off an outright victory in the opening two-day fixture of the Newcastle District Cricket Association season, have split their results while hosting twice already in 2019-20.
The Magpies welcome Toronto, Wests and City in succession, starting with defending champions the Kookaburras this Saturday, before hitting the road for the same amount of away encounters in the new year.
"It's not quite the same as the Gabba [for Australia], but we're back at royal Kahibah," the Charlestown captain said.
"[Curator] Mitch [Morgan] does a great job and we set up camp there for a while now [six weeks].
"It's a good deck for our spin attack. It's hard, but it offers a bit later in the day."
Earning the maximum 10 points against Belmont at Cahill Oval last start saw the Magpies break free from a logjam of teams sitting in the middle of the competition ladder.
Only Tom Locker Cup winners Hamilton-Wickham (33 points) and 2017-18 premiers Wests (28) sit above Charlestown (26) on the table while Cardiff-Boolaroo, University, Merewether (22), Wallsend and Stockton (17) all remain within striking distance.
"Hamwicks and Wests were the obvious standouts after the [five] one-dayers," Dickson said.
"But with the first game [of the season] washed out, no-one else managed to really get three of our wins. Everyone chipped away at each other. So it [the outright] was a good little pick up for us, especially before Christmas. It gives the team something to look forward to and work towards."
Dickson has selected right-arm paceman Parth Shah, who returns from injury.
"He [Shah] has been doing a lot of work at training to get his body right," the 2018-19 NSW Country representative said.
Dickson praised the recent performances of opening bowler Rory Maddison, who has 14 wickets this summer including four in Saturday's second innings.
"He was steaming in and we were back an extra step in slips," he said.
Charlestown's meeting with Toronto is a semi-final replay from March, but the Kookaburras have only a few survivors from that XI.
Corey Brown will lead Toronto in the absence of Adrian Chad while Chad Mackey makes his first grade debut.
The other semi-final from last season is also repeated at Townson Oval with Hamwicks visiting Merewether. The Pumas are down Kain Anderson and Tom Dwyer while the hosts are bolstered by the return of Tim O'Neill and David Celep.
Elsewhere in round seven and Wests battle Stockton, Wallsend meet City, Belmont are away to the CBs while Uni clash with Waratah.
