Higgs may play on in 2014

Who: Queanbeyan v Western District UC

Where: Freebody 2

When: Saturday, 11am

QUEANBEYAN all-rounder Mark Higgs says his club commitments remain “up in the air” at this stage but he remains hopeful of playing enough to qualify for finals.

The ACT Comets coach had retired from club duties to focus on his representative coaching commitments.

But the 37-year-old returned to the field for the side’s most recent one-day win over Eastlake on December 21.

With Queanbeyan short on troops during the Christmas/New Year break, Higgs also played in Queanbeyan’s failed SCG Cup finals campaign last month.

And with the Comets not due back to the field until February, Higgs said his availability for Queanbeyan’s final two one-day games of the season over the next fortnight was yet to be determined.

“I’d like to [qualify] for finals but it just depends on a lot of other things at the moment,” Higgs said.

“The plan is to get a couple of games in over January but I’ve got a couple of mate’s weddings as well so it’s just one week at a time. I’ve just been helping out really.”

Higgs is one of the most successful all-rounders to have come out of Queanbeyan having scored more than 5000 runs and taken nearly 300 wickets in the ACT grade competition.

A five-time Queanbeyan Club Champion Player of the Year, his inclusion into the Bluebags line-up would come as a boost for the club which is currently without big hitting opener Jono Dean on Big Bash League duties.

Queanbeyan is currently locked in a tight race at the top of the standings in the John Gallop Cup one-day competition with the side currently one point behind first-placed Eastlake.

The Bluebags are two points ahead of third-placed Weston Creek but, more importantly, are nine points clear of fifth-placed Gininderra meaning Queanbeyan’s finals spot is already all-but assured.

And with matches against seventh-ranked Western District UC and sixth-placed North Canberra Gungahlin, Queanbeyan is well positioned to sew up a top-two spot.