South Australian cricket coach Darren Berry says his team must be brave to secure their spot in the one-day cup final.
The Redbacks will advance to the final if they beat NSW in Adelaide on Sunday.
But a loss will leave the door ajar for other states to play Victoria in the February 27 decider.
“If we win, forget the rest – it’s easy,” Berry said of the equation for his Redbacks, who won the one-day title last season.
“We expect to win, as the champion team in this competition and a really good one-day side.
“We have got to be brave and we have got to back ourselves and play like champions.”
Berry lamented a lost opportunity on Thursday night when SA were defeated by a young NSW side in Sydney.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the playing group now as to how they respond,” he said.
“It was a really disappointing performance … we were outplayed.
“But you can turn it around pretty quickly and we simply have to do that.”
SA’s task has been hampered by the absences of strike bowler Kane Richardson and star batsman Callum Ferguson, both on Australia A duties.
Richardson has taken 12 wickets in his past two games since returning from having remedial work on his action after being banned from bowling during his Australian limited-overs debut.
Richardson will be replaced by fellow quick Joe Mennie, with Tom Cooper to replace Ferguson, the Redbacks’ leading scorer in the competition.
SA have also named uncapped Alex Carey in their squad, the left-handed batsman returning to cricket this season after being delisted by AFL club Greater Western Sydney.
The Blues will be without captain Ben Rohrer, also on Australia A duties.
Squads:
SA: Johan Botha (capt), Cullen Bailey, Alex Carey, Dan Christian, Tom Cooper, Jake Haberfield, Travis Head, Michael Klinger, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers (12th man to be named)
NSW: To be confirmed.