'Australian' Murphy laughs off mid-season rule changes Baseball David Polkinghorne Canberra Cavalry catcher Jack Murphy says the team "laughed" about the Australian Baseball League's mid-season rule changes and is confident they will "be right at the top where we expect to be".
But Murphy did admit he wouldn't have come back for a fourth season in orange if he had known he wouldn't have counted as an Australian as a recognition for his long service to the league. 
The ABL removed the rule that rewarded Murphy for more than two years of consecutive service by classifying him as an Australian because of fears the Cavalry's impressive first half of the season meant they would run away with the Claxton Shield.
But Murphy, who will get less game time as a result, said the rule change would have no affect on the Cavs' ability to win and joked if the ABL really wanted to stop Canberra from winning they would have kept him on the field because he "hasn't been playing particularly well".
Murphy has a batting average of .197 with seven runs batted in so far this season.
Canberra are looking for their first win since the halfway point when they take on the Brisbane Bandits at Narrabundah Ballpark on Friday, after the Sydney Blue Sox swept them last weekend.
The Cavs hold a one-game lead over the Bandits at the top of the ABL ladder.
"We laughed about [the rule change] and then we moved on and went about our work and got ready for the next series, which is what we do," Murphy said.
"[I'm] looking forward to myself and some of the other players playing up to our potential and capability," he added.
"When I think that happens and we're firing on all cylinders it won't really matter [about] the rules ... we'll be right at the top where we expect to be."
Ironically, the ABL approached Murphy last season about the possibility of introducing the loyalty rule.
He said the ABL's backflip could stop USA imports from coming down under year-on-year in the future.
Murphy said with the Cavs having enough cover at catcher and first base, it wouldn't have made sense to bring him out if he didn't count as an Australian.
"Not only would I have not come out, I don't think as great as my relationship is here in Canberra it wouldn't have made a lot of sense to bring me out if I didn't count as an Australian," he said.
The Cavalry will be without Jeremy Barnes (toe) again this series, with the infielder out indefinitely and wearing a moon boot. He does not require surgery, but was unsure when he would return to the Cavs line-up.
Aaron James Thompson returns to the Cavalry bullpen, at the expense of James D'Arcy, while Wade Korpi returns to the starting rotation at the expense of Rafael Fernandes for the series against the Bandits.
Cavalry manager Michael Collins said it was important for Korpi and fellow starter Scott Cone to get on top of the Bandits hitters early.
+ABL -- ROUND 9 Friday: Canberra Cavalry v Brisbane Bandits at Narrabundah Ballpark, 7pm. Saturday 4pm and 7pm, Sunday 12pm.