GARY Laycock thinks the key to getting Colne to their third Worsley Cup final in four years is the removal of Ramsbottom's professional Brad Hodge.

The Colne skipper has singled the Australian out as the man who stands between the Horsfield side and their bid to capture the trophy they last won in 1999.

"We reached the final in 1998 against East Lancs but lost and then it was East Lancs again the year after and that time we won it.

"It was Colne's first trophy in around 30 years.

"Now there is an air of expectation around Colne for us to do it again.

"I think we stand a good chance as long as we can get Hodge out fairly quickly.

"He is a quality pro and we don't want to give him a chance to get going."

Saying that, Gary has been impressed with his own side's Australian paid-man Marcus North.

"He is class and he is only in his first year here and is just 21. I have been playing 20-odd years and he is the best fielder I have seen.

"He is quality with the bat, I think he is averaging around 80 and although he started off a bit rocky, he has more than settled in now."

Colne have already beaten some strong opposition to get to the last four stage.

"I think we have had tougher games than perhaps tomorrow's although you can never tell in one-day games," continued the skipper. "We've beaten Todmorden, who were the holders, and Haslingden who have both got quality players but I think with Ramsbottom if we can get out the professional, we have the ability to win."

And while they are enjoying cup success, Colne's Transco Lancashire League form has also picked up recently -- and they were hoping to continue their charge up the table at Church today.

"If we win we will go fifth in the league and it is still wide open.

"When I took over as captain about four years ago, Colne had been bottom of the table for a number of years but now we have started to have some success.

"We just haven't been consistent enough this season but it's just a lack of experience.

"Take me and Gary Hunt out and all the lads are in their 20s. We are a young side.

"So we just need to get a run together and we'll see where it takes us.

"But we'll let the league look after itself at the moment, as all the focus is on tomorrow's game. Hopefully, we can make it through."