New Zealand Black Sox softball captain Nathan Nukunuku is expecting a tough tussle this weekend when his side hosts the Australian Steelers.
With both teams at the end of their seasons, he says there's no excuses for the teams to not put on a top display at Rosedale Park, NorthHarbour tonight and two games tomorrow.
"The time of the games is at the end of the seasons and everyone is ready to go for it," says Nukunuku.
"I'm hoping for a big crowd behind us. In the tough times of a game they help us battle through. Softball supporters are quite loud and they really give it to the opposition," says the veteran Black Sox infielder who believes the Australian Steelers have got better over recent years.
"At one stage the Aussies didn't have a great senior programme, but their junior programme was very good and they won three or four junior world titles, but now all of those junior guys have come through and a lot of their guys have spent time in North America. They'll be tough to beat this weekend. They were probably the second best team at the world champs last year, even though we beat Venezuela in the final," says Nukunuku.
Australia will be aiming to avenge their feisty quarter-final loss to the Black Sox in the 2013 world championships.
New Zealand features Te Wera Bishop who has spent time with the Boston Red Socks as well as a few experienced players such as Donny Hale, Brad Rona and Thomas Makea.
Australia have Adam Folkard and Andrew Kirkpatrick as their pitchers. Folkard has been clocked pitching at just under 140km/h and is widely regarded as the world's best while Kirkpatrick helped Ramblers win the New Zealand club title recently.
