The close rivals clash in round four of Cricket Shepparton's Haisman Shield competition and, if last time they met is anything to go by, it is going to be a thriller.
Although the Bombers were dismissed for 78 in the first innings of the two-day contest last season it was only a fighting 51 from Blues opener Dylan Grandell which dragged his side past the required total.
Waaia captain Brayden Carey is excited about the chance to do battle with the Blues once more.
“Last year we got pretty close, we got rolled for (78), but had them eight down when they passed us,” he said.
“It's definitely a rivalry game, Liam (Gledhill) and Dylan both won premierships with Waaia and Josh Smith played here for a bit.
“It's always good to play them.
“Hopefully we put in a similar performance, a couple might be away this week, but with the Cleeland boys (Mitch and Jordan) and Jesse Trower in good form hopefully we can still (match it with them).”
The Bombers went down to Mooroopna last round with the performances of Carey (54), Mitch Cleeland (46) and young spinner Seb Moore (3-68) the highlights.
“Seb bowls off-spin, he bowled really well in B-grade the week before (taking 3-14), so we gave him a chance and he bowled well,” Carey said.
“(Jake) Wright got a hold of him which blew his runs out, but he got him in the end, and he's only 18.”
Numurkah comes into the Waaia Recreation Reserve clash in scintillating form as a whole — but the side's openers are the players really doing the damage.
Grandell has been involved in partnerships of 172 (with Daniel Gledhill), 158 not out and 125 (with Smith) in the first three rounds, while strike bowlers Tim Braybon (11 wickets) and Matt Cline (five) have 16 wickets between them.
“It'll be a great game,” Carey said.
“It will be interesting to see where we're at against probably the benchmark of the comp, it will show us how much we've improved from last year.”
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