Davis played with Wingham last season. A top order batsman and handy medium pace bowler, he had a stand out year and this included a century and a five wicket haul in his debut with the club. He also represented Manning First XI in the Mid North Coast inter-district competition.

However, he headed back to his home town of Scone earlier this year for employment.

“Josh has been working in Scone, but his family is still living here,’’ Wingham captain Matt Essery said.

“He said he’d prefer to come back here on weekends and have a game. Josh has put in for a clearance and I’m hoping he’ll be right for this weekend.’’

Essery described Davis’s return as a ‘massive boost for us.’

If the paper work has been cleared Davis will open the batting tomorrow. Regular opener, Wayne Smoothy, will miss the match as will wicket keeper/batsman Ryan Morris. Fast bowling trump Ryan Williams injured his back in the inter-district game last week but may play as a batsman. Opening bowler Steve Allwood is out with a broken finger while Grahame Stinson is unavailable.

“We’re down a few troops but that’s been the case all year,’’ Essery said.

“So it’s a good time to get Josh back.’’

Promising junior Hayden Essery looks set to have another game in first grade but fellow junior Josh McTaggart is battling a back complaint and is likely to be given the day off.

“I’ll probably look to give another young bloke a game,’’ Essery said.

Wingham and United are locked on 27 points on top of the ladder and look set to fight out the minor premiership even though there's still a long way to go in the competition-proper. They will fight out the final of the Johnny Martin Shield one day competition on Australia Day.

Essery is looking further afield, saying it’s the two day fixtures where the bulk of points are available.

 “That’s when I want us firing,’’ he said.

WHILE Old Bar has struggled in the one day portion of the Manning first grade cricket season, captain Blake Polson is confident they’ll improve when the two dayers start next month.

Old Bar is out of the reckoning for a berth in the one day final and it would appear the Seasiders will fight out third place on the ladder with Taree West, tomorrow’s opponents.

Polson argues some of the younger players in his side have struggled to come to terms with the at times frantic pace of the one day game.

“They can get a bit flustered,’’ he said.

“But they experience they’ve gained in the one dayers will be good for the longer form of the game.’’

Polson said Old Bar will field their best side of the season tomorrow against Taree West with the addition of all-rounders Reece Whitton and Tim Rees.

Polson admits getting the right mix this year has been a challenge for Old Bar.

“We either bat well or bowl well,’’ he said.

“If we can do both in the one game, we’ll be right and we’ll win more games this season.’’

Old Bar batsman Mick Whitton at the crease in the first round clash against Taree West. The team meet again tomorrow.

THEY’VE booked a berth in the one day final, however, United captain Ricky Campbell said his side won’t be dropping in intensity for the remainder of the Manning first grade cricket one day season.

There are three matches remaining before the start of two day fixtures. United and Wingham lead the competition on 27 points, comfortably clear of Taree West and Old Bar on nine.

United and Wingham will clash tomorrow at Chatham Park. Campbell said United will maintain focus in all games, no matter where the opposition is placed. However, he agrees he won’t have any trouble building his players up for tomorrow.

United will be at full strength for tomorrow and are fresh from a strong win over Taree West last weekend.

Campbell has invited the opposition to bat first on three occasions this year when he’s won the toss. However, he'll bat tomorrow if he is given the option.

“I had a look at the wicket earlier this week and looks fine,’’ he said.

“Unless we have some rain later this week, I’ll be batting.’’

Meanwhile Manning will look to lock up a place in the Mid North Coast inter-district firsts final in the match against Hastings at Wayne Richards Oval at Port Macquarie on Sunday November 27.

Manning scored a close win over Macleay in the game at the Johnny Martin Oval last Sunday.

The final will be played on Sunday January 22 at a venue to be decided.