Andrews was told on the eve of his side's crunch match with Altona North at Crofts Reserve that strike bowler Sam Thurston would be unavailable due to work commitments.

Thurston is one of those near irreplaceable players in the Druids line-up because of his standing in the pecking order of bowlers in the competition.

The new-ball operator is seventh on the list of wicket takers with 20 wickets at 13.80 and an important cog in the batting line-up.

Andrews spent Thursday evening at training telling his players of the importance of the two-day bout with Altona North.

Thurston's late withdrawal prompted a swift rejigging of the line-up.

Thinking outside the square, Andrews asked wicketkeeper Kane Roach to give up the gloves and called up Simon McKerracher from the seconds to take his spot.

Roach, once a top-line bowler, had been used as a bowler just once in a two-dayer this summer.

McKerracher, promoted from the twos to don the gloves, had only been used sparingly in the position. The moves proved to be a master stroke.

Altona North was rolled for a pitiful 90 on its home ground with Roach taking 4-20 and McKerracher grasping four catches behind the stumps.

"He's [Roach] been our wicketkeeper since Christmas but I think there will be further discussions over his role in the next few weeks," Andrews said.

Andrews put the icing on the cake for Druids with 6-16 in an outstanding exhibition of medium pace bowling.

The Druids were cock-a-hoop about their position at the changeover and had plenty of time to make an

impression on the small target.

The visitors, however, made a sloppy start. They were three wickets down in quick time before a steadying partnership between Tim McKerracher and Indi Gallage left them in an almost unassailable position on 3-71 at stumps with just 20 runs to get for first innings points.

"They settled it down for us," Andrews said.

"It was a good recovery."