The Storm has endured an extended mid-season break given their enforced two weeks off on May 29 and June 5 due to lockdown restrictions were followed by the bye last weekend.

When the Storm takes to the court at Canterbury Park against Eaglehawk on Saturday it will have been 28 days since their last game against South Bendigo when they were beaten 62-47.

"We're extremely keen to get back out on court," Strathfieldsaye coach Steph Freemantle said on Friday.

"We've had a bit of a rough start to the season with a couple of knee injuries in our senior squad, but what that has done is create opportunities for a lot of our younger girls to step up.

"Those younger girls who have come out of the 17-under team and have been playing A Reserve like Angelica Jack and Serryn Eenjes are super keen to get some quarters in our A Grade team, so that's exciting for the club.

"We had a really good week of training, so we're really looking forward to Saturday."

The Storm sit in seventh position on the ladder with a 1-5 record, with their sole victory having come in round three when they beat Maryborough 60-51.

But despite only having one win on the board, they are only one game behind fifth-placed Eaglehawk (2-4), making Saturday's return match a pivotal clash as the Storm pursues their first finals berth since their grand final season of 2015.

"This is a really big opportunity for us to have a crack at a team that is above us, so it's going to be exciting to see if we can get ourselves up into that top five," Freemantle said.

An added dynamic to Saturday's clash is the unique situation of the Hawks being coached by Gayle Annan, who is the mother of Strathfieldsaye player Eliza Hynes.

"I'm sure that will add a bit of extra spark to Hynesy's step this week," Freemantle said.

Former international volleyballer and Collingwood AFLW player Hynes is in her first season with the Storm after returning to netball.

"Eliza is doing well in getting her netball skills finely-tuned again. She's super keen to take on feedback and is improving every week," Freemantle said.

"She played a few games earlier in the season in defence and she's played goals the past few and it has been great to have her."

* Saturday's games:

Gisborne v Maryborough

Last time - Gisborne 68 def Maryborough 58.

Since 2014 - Gisborne 11; Maryborough 2.

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Kyneton v Sandhurst

Last time - Sandhurst 55 def Kyneton 37.

Since 2014 - Sandhurst 8; Kyneton 2.

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South Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat

Last time - Kangaroo Flat 42 def South Bendigo 30.

Since 2014 - Kangaroo Flat 11; South Bendigo 1.

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Eaglehawk v Strathfieldsaye

Last time - Eaglehawk 51 def Strathfieldsaye 44.

Since 2014 - Eaglehawk 6; Strathfieldsaye 5; Drawn 1.

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LADDER:

1. Kangaroo Flat - 26

2. Gisborne - 26

3. Sandhurst - 24

4. South Bendigo - 20

5. Eaglehawk - 12

6. Kyneton - 12

7. Strathfieldsaye - 8

8. Maryborough - 8

9. Golden Square - 4

The clash between Huntly and White Hills highlights round nine of the Heathcote District league season.

The two sides are separated by just half-a-game, with reigning premier White Hills sitting third and Huntly in fourth position.

Both teams are coming off victories last week, with the Hawks aiming to snap the dominance of White Hills over them.

The ledger since 2014 is 13-0 in favour of White Hills, not that the Hawks are on their own in having been dominated by the perennial power Demons in recent years.

Also on Saturday Colbinabbin will make an eagerly-awaited return to the court and will be hoping to pick up from where it left off when it plays Mount Pleasant at Toolleen.

The second-placed Grasshoppers had won six games in a row - all by at least 18 goals - before three weeks off due to the lockdown followed by the bye last weekend.

* Saturday's games:

Elmore v Heathcote

Last time - Elmore 71 def Heathcote 22.

Since 2014 - Elmore 9; Heathcote 3.

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LBU v North Bendigo

Last time - North Bendigo 82 def LBU 34.

Since 2014 - North Bendigo 9; LBU 3.

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Huntly v White Hills

Last time - White Hills 49 def Huntly 24.

Since 2014 - White Hills 13; Huntly 0.

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Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin

Last time - Colbinabbin 65 def Mount Pleasant 34.

Since 2014 - Colbinabbin 15; Mount Pleasant 0.

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LADDER:

1. Elmore - 32

2. Colbinabbin - 24

3. White Hills - 18

4. Huntly - 16

5. North Bendigo - 16

6. Mount Pleasant - 14

7. Heathcote - 8

8. L'ville-Gunbower - 4

9. LBU - 0

Loddon Valley league action returns for the first time since May 22 with round eight games to be played.

The match of the round pits Pyramid Hill (5th) against Bridgewater (4th) at Mitchell Park.

Meanwhile, Marong will be back on court for the first time in more than a month when it plays Inglewood.

The Panthers haven't played since May 15 against Bridgewater having had a forfeit win over BL-Serpentine on May 22 followed by the three weeks of season pause.

* Saturday's games:

Inglewood v Marong

Last time - Inglewood 54 def Marong 53.

Since 2014 - Marong 7; Inglewood 3.

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Pyramid Hill v Bridgewater

Last time - Bridgewater 52 def Pyramid Hill 28.

Since 2014 - Bridgewater 9; Pyramid Hill 4.

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Newbridge v Calivil United

Last time - Newbridge 56 def Calivil United 44.

Since 2014 - Newbridge 7; Calivil United 7.

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LADDER:

1. Mitiamo - 28

2. Maiden Gully YCW - 20

3. Calivil United - 16

4. Bridgewater - 16

5. Pyramid Hill - 12

6. Marong - 8

7. Newbridge - 8

8. Inglewood - 4

9. BL-Serpentine - 0

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