Just one win from five games has Wickliffe-Lake Bolac sitting in 10^th place on the Mininera and District Netball Association ladder.

Magpies coach Melissa Lewis said despite winning just the one match her side has been better than the ladder indicates.

“We need to keep winning to look for finals,” she said.

“Even though we have only won one game we have been close to the top teams and played some good patches of netball.”

Both teams had the week off last weekend, a welcome break for them both.

“We really needed it,” Great Western coach Amy Kindred said.

“We had a slower week last week and have gotten back into it a bit more this week.”

Lewis shared similar thoughts to Kindred.

“We had a few little niggles and injuries after some very tough games so it was quite timely,” she said.

“I told all the girls to try and get your bodies right and recover well.”

“We did a bit of fitness but didn’t push ourselves.”

The Magpies will have a mostly unchanged side while multiple injuries have continued to force changes for Great Western.

Suse Cavanagh will play her first game of the season for the Lions while young Sophie Graham will step up into A Grade again.

“Injuries have hit us hard so we will have a new-look team with players in different positions once again,” Kindred said.

“Some consistency in the team would be nice but we have to work with what we have.

“One positive is we have such a versatile team that we have girls that can play every position.”

The Lions have not won a game since round two, with injuries playing havoc. 

Kindred said her team has not dropped its head in their three consecutive losses.

“The past few scores haven’t reflected how we have played,” she said.

“Everyone has remained positive and confidence is still high.

“We just need to keep doing what we are doing and stick to our game plan.”

A win for the Lions could see them jump into the top four, while victory for the Magpies would put them back into finals contention. 

Lewis said she expects a hard fought game of netball at Great Western.

“I am predicting a hard game – it is a big challenge for us,” she said.

“Every time we are defensive, use the ball well and go hard at the ball we seem to come out in front more often than not. If we can keep doing that the results will come.”

Great Western and Wickliffe-Lake Bolac go into the match with different form, with the Magpies coming off a win and Great Western on a three-game losing streak.