GRANGE skipper Sanjay Patel believes the outcome of the Lloyds TSB cricket Premiership can be shaped during a month-long period when top players will be back on the domestic stage and free from representative commitments, starting tomorrow.
And, for Grange, that means transporting outstanding away form to Raeburn Place where they entertain NVT Poloc.
Patel said: "We are entering an important phase and it's our good fortune that Neil McCallum is going to be available for the whole of
June."
Hailing McCallum as the dynamo who can drive Grange up the table from their current third place, some five points behind leaders Ayr, Patel says: "Neil is one of the most mentally-hard players in Scottish cricket as I was recently reminded.
"When he was dropped by Scotland I spoke with him at length and he didn't moan or complain.
"All Neil was interested in was getting back into the side and scoring runs.
"Then a call-off opened the door and he immediately hit 60 at Durham to make himself undroppable again.
"That's the calibre of someone who can make a big impact on the Grange team while another to watch out for is (wicket-keeper/batsman] Simon Smith who gets better each season.
"My only regret at the moment is the finger injury that is preventing Giles Holmes from showing the sort of form, particularly with the bat, that could force him into the Saltires set-up, but there is still enough talent around to believe that if we show discipline and keep our feet on the ground then we can challenge anyone." Typically, Patel plays down his own contributions, which include scores of 96 and 42, by saying even the captaincy would not prevent him being relegated down the batting order if he doesn't keep producing.
"It's always at the back of my mind that, given our depth, if I don't score runs I'll soon find myself going in at No.8 or No.9. That's a big incentive for any batsman and I really want to lead from the front after the captaincy honour given to me this season."
A product of Clackmannanshire where his father Mahindra, the past president of Cricket Scotland, was in charge of youth development, 35-year-old Sanjay feels his future lies on the domestic scene after gaining two Scotland caps in 2001.
And that means a wealth of experience on offer from a player who emerged from age-group cricket at the "wee county" alongside subsequent fellow caps Dougie Brown, who went on to play one-day internationals with England, and Bryn Lockie.
"Measured against a season playing in Holland and also in the Surrey Leagues with Esher before returning to Grange, I am convinced top clubs here could hold their own anywhere in the UK.
"Where I would have some concern is about the depth, with some Scottish clubs not producing the number of talented youngsters they have in the past."
Meantime the Scottish and Newcastle Breweries marketing executive will continue to strive to take Grange back to the top of a league they last won in 2006.
"It really is wide open this year and, although we were caught cold by Ayr, found Uddingston's Ed Cowan at his absolute best and slipped up against Scotland under-19s on a day when we were a few regulars short, our away form has shown what Grange are really capable of.
"To win at Greenock by 65 runs was as enjoyable as knocking over Clydesdale by 118 runs while last time out Heriot's were out 93 runs short of our target.
"Those results suggest that, provided we prepare properly, then everything else will fall into place.
"But we won't be taking Poloc or anyone else for granted."
Such caution is surely justified for a side still requiring to get off the mark at home. NVT Poloc will travel with a team including professional Gavin Ewing fresh from an unbeaten 143 in defeat to leaders Ayr last weekend.
Zimbabwean Ewing's knock is the joint-second highest individual total in the league this season. Also listed is newly-arrived overseas amateur Jason Dombroski, who took 3-43 from 8.2 overs on his debut.
Elsewhere tomorrow, Carlton will be looking to halt a run of two defeats when they visit Uddingston. Carlton will be without the unavailable Bryn Lockie but are able to fill the gap with another internationalist, Darren Spink.
Heriot's entertain Ayr and, also in the Capital, Watsonians seek to build on their first league win of the season, at Ferguslie last week, when they host Greenock.
In Division One, Penicuik await West, while the Division Two card includes a Barnton derby in which RH Corstorphine face Edinburgh CC. SMRH are at Renfrew.
