North Otago Hawke Cup hero Duncan Drew reckons the current team is stronger than the side which achieved near immortality in Oamaru when it won the trophy in 2010.
Drew scored a century and combined in a crucial 91-run stand for the last wicket with David Sewell which helped his side beat Manawatu by 159 runs in Palmerston North.
Six years on and the veteran opening batsman will get another opportunity to help claim minor association cricket's greatest prize when the team travels to Westport to play Buller at Craddock Park later this week.
Buller lifted the trophy from Canterbury Country late last month.
"[2010] was interesting because in the first game of the year we lost by an innings against Otago Country, so it was the worst possible start,'' Drew said.
"We ended up needing certain results to go our way to actually get to the challenge, whereas this year we've won every game and have made our own luck.
"With the depth coming through, it feels to me like it is a stronger squad overall than what it used to be.''
Drew played four first class games for Otago as a wicketkeeper in 2001-02. But most of his cricket has been played in Oamaru.
He made his debut in 1994 when he was in his last year at Waitaki Boys' High School and has played 76 games, scoring 2508 runs at an average of 22.19.
At 39, he is the oldest member in the squad, but is perhaps not ready to retire just yet.
"If we win it, we still have to defend it,'' he said when asked if the Hawke Cup challenge might be a good way to bow out.
"It is the old saying, ‘you are a long time retired' ... and you sort of want to carry on and help out where you can and see these guys come through even further.''
Drew has taken pleasure playing alongside New Zealand under-19 bowler Nathan Smith, who he rates as one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from the region in some time.
He is away at the under-19 World Cup at the moment but South African Francois Mostert shapes as one of the key players.
He is averaging close to 50 this season and has taken 32 wickets at a wonderful average of 11.13.
Experienced top-order player Ben Cant has been in good touch with the bat as well.
He has scored 374 runs at 62.33 this summer.
"We've also got a good bunch of young kids who have come through the Otago age group system.''
North Otago and Buller are the two smallest associations in the country.
