‘I’d love to smack him around the ground’: Davies brothers fighting for bragging rights in Sydney Smash

They spent years playing against each other in the backyard, but Ollie and Joel Davies are getting ready for the real thing.

Their morning will start like most others when they play a round of golf together at Long Reef, but the Davies brothers are bracing for a very awkward drive back to the family home on Saturday night, with the pair set to face off in the Sydney Smash for the first time.

While long sessions in the backyard are nothing new, this will be the first time that Ollie will play against Joel at any level when the former BBL teammates clash at Sydney Showground Stadium in a battle between east and west.

The brothers got the chance to wear the green together last season, with Joel stealing the show on debut with a couple of catches and two run-outs on the same day that Ollie smashed a half-century in a shock win over the Scorchers.

Joel, 20, has since signed a three-year deal with the Sixers and is keen to show off the form that saw him lead all run-scorers at the national under-19 championships last year.

Joel Davies is forging his own path at the Sixers. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“It’s going to be weird because he’s my brother and I want him to do really well, but I’m playing against him, so it’s going to be a weird trade-off to see him get out,” Ollie said.

“I’ll be disappointed for him but excited for the team, so I’m actually a bit nervous to see how everything unfolds.

“I’m pretty stoked for him.

“I’m obviously disappointed he moved over to the magenta because I tried my hardest to get him to stay here, but some things you can’t control.”

Ollie is now into his fourth season where he’s hit scores of 35, 32, 23 and 23, but he’s keen to do some real damage as the Thunder try to bounce back from a slow start.

He’s spent years smashing his younger brother around the backyard, and now he wants to do it in front of a sold-out crowd, although he says he’s smart enough to not run on Joel’s arm.

Ollie Davies has had a strong start to the season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“Hopefully, he gets the opportunity to bowl at me because I’d love to try and smack him around the ground. Hopefully, I get to bowl at him, too,” the Thunder star said.

According to Joel, we might not see that happen.

“I’m pretty happy not to bowl at him the way he’s been playing spin lately,” he said.

“It’ll be a pretty cool experience if we get that opportunity.

“It was pretty nerve-racking for me when I first started watching him play, but seeing him go do that encouraged me to hopefully do that.

“We’ve gone our separate ways with me at the Sixers, but we’re still close.”

They may not play for the same BBL franchise, but they still live under the same roof, which will make things extra spicy on game day.

“We’re still living together and we’re playing golf on Saturday morning before the game,” Ollie said, before Joel warned that he’d hit a few loose drives off the tee to “injure him”.

“It should be a good test before the game.

“I’ve got him covered by two shots at the moment.

“I’m planning on getting that (my golf handicap) down and hopefully Joel’s stays there.

“We’ll drive in together tomorrow.

“There’ll be no talking in the car getting here, but there may be some chat on the way home depending on the result.”

Ollie wants to get one over his younger brother. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

The pair grew up playing for the Harbord Devils where their parents didn’t have to worry about who they were supporting.

But they face a similar issue to the one Donna Kelce had at this year’s Super Bowl where she was forced to wear a jacket with both the Eagles and Chiefs colours to support sons Travis and Jason who were on opposite sides.

“It’s pretty exciting. Our parents are pretty stoked and we’re definitely nervous heading into this game,” Ollie said, unsure whether there will be some form of punishment for the loser.

“From what I’ve heard – I don’t know if they’ve told Joel differently and they want to make me feel better – but I’ve heard that they’re wearing a Thunder shirt but hoping Joel does well.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve told Joel that they’re wearing a Sixers shirt but hoping that Ollie does well.”