Musketeers must win double-header

DAVE Suthers is loathe to count his blessings too soon lest he jinxes himself.

“At this point in time we've got a full squad,” the Ipswich Musketeers coach said ahead of this weekend's crucial double-header.

It hasn't happened yet this season so Suthers is not taking it for granted until it does, against Redlands at Capalaba today and All Stars at Hendra on Sunday.

Musketeers currently sit seventh in the Greater Brisbane League, equal on win percentages with eighth-placed Beenleigh and just a win above Mudgeeraba.

They must finish in the top eight to advance to the Major League when the competition splits into two in a fortnight.

Two wins from four might get them there but a pair of wins this weekend would almost ensure their safety.

It is achievable against 11th placed Redlands and 14th placed All Stars.

However, both games are away and Ipswich showed, in its loss last Friday to 12th-placed Toowoomba Rangers at Tivoli, that it is not immune to an upset.

“It is not just having a full squad,” Suthers said of his optimism.

“We've got our two proven pitchers, in Josh (Roberts) and Dean (Jones), starting for the first time in tandem.”

Suthers knows there will be no more excuses should the Musketeers fall out of the top eight.

“Five and five (wins and losses) is not good enough,” he said.

“We need to get above 500 and get on the better side of the equation.

“We really need to win all our (next four) games.”

Suthers hopes the importance of this weekend will see a marked improvement.

“I think the boys have got the message and realise we've got to go on a winning streak,” he said.

“We've got the team to do that.”

Which is why getting relegated to the second tier Pacific League would be devastating.

“You always want to be in the top competition,” Suthers said.

“The squad of players we've got this weekend is as strong as any team.

“It's just about putting it together.”