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EAGLEHAWK coach Mali Roberts is confident her side will avoid any complacency as they march towards the BFNL A-grade netball finals for the first time in several seasons.
A new-look Hawks have recovered from a 2-2 start to the season to be handily placed in fourth position at the halfway mark of the regular season, half a win behind third-placed Gisborne.
Having set their season up nicely, Roberts is eager to ensure her talented playing group remains relentless in its pursuit of finals.
"We were a bit slow in the beginning sitting outside of the top five, but now we are where we need to be and just need to maintain our position or better it," she said.
"(We have) some big games ahead and we expect each team to have improved and learned from the first round.
"We just need to take it game by game and quarter by quarter and not think too far ahead."
Eaglehawk continues its season this Saturday against an improved South Bendigo.
The Bloods breathed plenty of life into their season with an upset win over reigning premiers Kangaroo Flat last weekend.
Roberts, who is back coaching in the BFNL after taking a year off in 2016, viewed the Bloods win as further evidence of a healthier competition.
"South are on a high and certainly rattling the waters, which is fantastic for our competition," she said.
" We expect them to come out hard especially being that first game of round two. We need to be prepared for that and will be.
"Their win against Kangaroo Flat just proves that you should never assume or underestimate any team in our competition.
"You just don’t know which way it is going to go."
The Hawks enter the contest with confidence after a nine goal win over Maryborough.
It was their fourth victory from the past five matches and one Roberts acknowledged did not come without a fight, with the Hawks' fast start proving influential.
"You can never underestimate Maryborough as they are a team that have proven to surprise teams in the past and get stronger as the game goes on," she said.
"For most of the middle part of the game it was basically goal for goal and they minimised our lead, but then we were able to pull away again in the last quarter.
"(Magpies goal shooter) Jordan Macilwain is always a strong driving force for the team, but overall they had a consistent game across the court.
"They always seem to be a well meshed team."
The Hawks have shown great resilience, having made do without quality defender Elley Lawton for a few games with an injured ankle, and also losing star recruits Ashley Ryan, Abbey Ryan and Zoe Davies on occasions due to VNL commitments.
"We have also had a few niggly injuries here and there across the board, but have had our A-reserve players step up and take the court," Roberts said.
Given a healthier run with injuries, the former Papua New Guinea international sees no reason why the Hawks cannot add their name to the list of genuine premiership contenders.
In other games this weekend, top side Golden Square hosts a Kangaroo Flat side looking to bounce back from rare consecutive defeats, Strathfieldsaye's new-found form faces a big test against Sandhurst, Maryborough clashes with Castlemaine, and winless Kyneton makes the trip to Gisborne.