HUNTLY will look to make it three wins from three games in A-grade netball when it makes the trip up the highway to Elmore this Saturday.
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The in-form Hawks find themselves in a strong position in their bid to play finals following crucial back-to-back wins over the two teams closest to them on the league ladder.
They backed-up a stunning win over third-placed Leitchville-Gunbower a fortnight ago, with a nail-biting three goal triumph over fellow big improvers Mount Pleasant last weekend.
The win over the Blues lifted the Hawks to 4-2, one win behind second-placed White Hills and level with the Bombers.
White Hills, which is looking to rebound from their first defeat of the season, meets Leitchville-Gunbower this weekend.
Following a disrupted start to the season in which they played just four games in six weeks, the Hawks have taken flight under their first-year coach Emily Eliades.
With Laura Philbrick and Kym Bell missing from the line-up against the Blues, Eliades said the Hawks had to dig deep to get the win against a talented and committed opposition.
The win was aided by impressive performances from Jenna Baker, who was stepping up from A-reserve, goal keeper Jayeden Quin and midcourter Sharna Appleby.
"Jayeden turned over a lot of passes and provided us with a lot of opportunities to keep us in the game," Eliades said.
"Ashlea Jenkyn shot 98 per cent on the day, which was really, really impressive.
"It was just a fantastic game to watch and coach, one of those games where you think 'I would love to be out on the court with them'.
"It was just a brilliant game from both sides."
Just as impressive for the Hawks has been their ability to claw their way back into contention after their season was delicately placed at 2-2 after a round five loss to Colbinabbin.
It was that defeat to the reigning premiers that for Eliades revealed plenty about the type of netball her team was capable after the Hawks led the Grasshoppers at half time.
"For a while there I was thinking we just can't cut a break to get into the five, but now I'm thinking we have the chance to be very nicely placed at the end of the first round," she said.
"A lot of people at the club are saying how exciting the atmosphere around netball is, it's just brilliant.
"But the girls have just worked really hard, they deserve it. On the court they are really digging in and giving it everything they have got.
I can't be more proud of them."
The Hawks have the opportunity to build some serious momentum, with its next three games against Elmore, Heathcote and North Bendigo, currently ranked eighth, ninth and seventh on the ladder.
In other games this weekend, Lockington-Bamawm United return to action after the bye against Colbinabbin, and fifth-placed Mount Pleasant hosts North Bendigo.
