Winning builds confidence, and if City Colts can pick up their second win of the season this weekend, they’ll be flying heading into the short form of the competition.

Armed with a youthful squad, the Colts have been impressive in patches so far in the competition but have lacked consistency against some of the better sides they face.

They’ll have a chance to lock in some form ahead of the T20 when they host Beechworth Wanderers at Bill O’Callaghan Oval this Saturday.

Beechworth, who finished third overall last season, have taken a step back on the ladder, currently sitting fifth with just a single win to their name.

Colts skipper Aaron Thrum said they wouldn’t underestimate their opposition.

“We’re definitely not taking anything for granted this weekend,” he said.

“They’ve obviously got their core group, they’ve got a lot of really good, young talent coming through.

“They haven’t really been blown out a lot, they’ve been competitive.

“They’re maybe just missing one or two pieces at the moment, but we obviously know what they’re capable of, they’ve got a lot of talent at the top of the order with Clancy [Ellett] and the Surreys [Brenton and Kayde].”

While Colts haven’t had much success on the ladder, Thrum has been impressed with the development the young side has already displayed.

“We obviously knew results may not go our way every week, but we’ve been really happy with what we’ve dished up,” he said.

“I feel like we’ve been really competitive for large period throughout the year, with maybe one or two lapses, but I’m really happy with how we’ve performed this year.

“I feel like a couple of our younger boys, that expectation of even though it’s a one-day game, every ball matters, and it can be a long time in the field if the opponent gets on top of you - I feel like some of them have picked up on that, and they’re working hard to make sure every ball counts and they’re on for every ball, and enjoying themselves out on the field.

“That’s one thing we focussed on, one thing we’ve taken the right steps towards.”

With only the Benalla scalp under their belts so far, and with the competition moving into the explosive and unpredictable T20 format from next weekend, a triumph on Saturday could light the spark which sees the Colts surge.

“It would just prove that on any day, our absolute best is good enough in this comp,” Thrum said.

“I still feel like we’re yet to put a full 90-over performance at our absolute best in, so it would be good for that.

“Beechy have got a lot of good players and a lot of talent there, and we know we will have to be at our best to get a good result.”

City Colts are up against Beechworth Wanderers at Bill O’ Callaghan Oval from 12.30pm this Saturday.