Willow Cuts’ promotion bid is back on track.

Four wins in their past five outings has thrust the West Enders among a three-horse race for the sole automatic promotion spot to the Premier Division, with a handful of matches remaining in the 2017 season.

Cuts eliminated PHC from the promotion race at the weekend and have set their sights on reeling in First Division leaders St George’s and second-placed Flatts who they play on Sunday at Lord’s.

The eventual league winners gain automatic promotion to the top tier, while the runners-up play the second from bottom team in the Premier Division in a promotion play-off.

Cuts can still mathematically clinch the automatic spot and have a game in hand on leaders St George’s who they will meet in their season finale at Wellington Oval.

“We always had in mind of at least getting to the play-offs because we had two games where there were no umpires and so we knew we had to play those games,” Dexter Basden, the coach of Cuts, said.

With everything still to play for at the business end of the season Cuts appear to be gelling at the right time.

“We lost three of our home games at the beginning of the season when it was like hit or miss,” Basden said.

“But the unity is coming back and the guys are believing in themselves and are talking about promotion, which is good.

“Willow Cuts always seem to be pick it up getting close to Cup Match and after.

“Somehow they just thrive around that time.”

Spearheading Willow Cuts’ resurgence is newly installed captain Kamal Bashir, who Basden says is gradually coming to grips with the vital leadership role.

“It’s been a little challenge for Kamal but I am going to make him a good captain before I get off the scene,” Basden said.

“He’s coming along gradually and is making some good decisions on his own and he also has the senior guys like Sheroy [Fubler], Kwasi [James], Bergon [Spencer] and Dwight [Basden] offering assistance on the field.”

Cuts have put a lot of energy into grooming their youngsters at the club and appear to be reaping the benefits of their efforts.

“I am very impressed with a lot of these guys that came up through our Under-14s,” Basden said.

“We have young players like Chakote Wainwright, Shamar Gomes, Faheem Swan, Joseph Basden and Kamel Easton who is coming into his game.

“We have so many youngsters that came through our youth programme and it seems as though it was a perfect fit for them going down in the First Division to develop.

“You can see a difference in these guys who are developing. They are getting it together and regardless whether we come up or not and I am very proud of the progress our young players have made.”

Cuts will now look to make further inroads towards their promotion objective in their next outing against a Flatts side keen to get their own promotion bid back on track after suffering defeat against leaders St George’s at the weekend.

Flatts won the first league meeting between the two sides by four wickets at Somerset Cricket Club.

“This game against Flatts this weekend is major,” Basden said.

Leaders St George’s play host to Devonshire Rec at Wellington Oval.