ALL of the planets must align and Charlestown captain Daniel Arms knows it's unlikely, but the Magpies still have the slightest of chances to reach the Newcastle District Cricket Association finals.
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The eighth-placed team must beat hosts Wallsend outright in the last round and hope at least three other results go their way to sneak inside the top four.
However, with seventh-placed opponents the Tigers in a similar scenario, NSW Country representative Arms knows both teams will be chasing a result across the two-day encounter.
"They need to win outright as well so it makes it interesting," he said.
"I think we'll just play like it's a normal game of cricket because they'll be attacking too. See what happens from there and where it all lands on day two.
"We're not going to go out there and try to blast 100 off the first 20 overs."
Only the top three have secured maximum points during the season and on each occasion it was against the two bottom-ranked teams.
Charlestown (37 points) trail Wallsend (40) on a congested competition ladder.
They will each keep an eye around the grounds this Saturday and next with City (43) and Merewether (44) also trying to keep alive title aspirations via wins over minor premiers Wests (60) and second-placed Belmont (50) respectively.
The fortunes of third-placed Hamilton-Wickham (47) and fourth-placed Stockton (46) matter as well. The Pumas are at home to Toronto at Passmore Oval in a replay of the 2018-19 decider while the Seagulls are away to University.
"I can't remember a competition this tight before," Arms said. "I think it's good for Newcastle cricket."
Arms, who took over the leadership duties midway through the campaign, said it was important the Magpies take their chances.
"It's those 50-50 catches and it feels like we've missed every single one of those this season. You can't afford to do that if you want to play in the semis," he said.
Charlestown, coming off a morale-boosting victory last round, lose Jake Richardson but welcome back his brother Michael from a hamstring injury suffered just before the Christmas break.
Wallsend are minus Pat Magann (side strain), who has taken 21 wickets at an average of 19.19 this campaign.
Elsewhere in round 13 and all-rounder Sam Webber is unavailable for Hamwicks while Angus Ping debuts for Toronto.
Wests are down three regulars - Jeremy Nunan, Ben Chew, Josh Mills - but City are unchanged at Harker Oval.
Richard Moolman replaces Dom Symonds for Belmont against the Lions at Townson Oval.
Stockton remain the same against the Sea Dragons at University Oval.
Waratah-Mayfield visit Cardiff-Boolaroo at Pasterfield Sporting Complex.
LADDER: Wests 60, Belmont 50, Hamwicks 47, Stockton 46, Merewether 44, City 43, Wallsend 40, Charlestown 37, Toronto 27, Waratah-Mayfield 26, University 25, Cardiff-Boolaroo 10.
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