Things are starting to get interesting in the A-grade Picola and District Netball League, with the ladder beginning to take shape.
Picola United and Waaia are the only two sides yet to lose a game, while a six-team-strong chasing pack sits on two wins.
For Rennie and Katandra, the situation is simple and with the sides sitting in 10th and 11th after one success each, a win is crucial to remain in touch with the rest of the ladder.
This makes Saturday’s game all the more important, and Rennie coach Paula Mifka said the Grasshoppers were looking to work on their match fitness.
“We’ve probably struggled the last few weeks because we’ve got a bit of a mixed team,” Mifka said.
“Again this week we’ve got quite a few out so all in all I think it’s about giving the young girls a good chance to step up and get some match experience.”
The young Rennie side has been up against it in recent weeks, taking on a solid Katamatite team before falling to the undefeated Waaia last week.
Despite the difficult start to the campaign, Mifka was hoping for things to start moving in the right direction.
“Draw-wise we’ve got some pretty solid teams in the first third of the draw which unfortunately seems to be when we’ve got some people away so I think we’re just looking at getting that match experience and just trying to learn from our key take-outs each week,” Mifka said.
She said taking on some of the top level sides early in the draw allowed some of the young players in the side to gain much-needed experience.
“In the start of the year we do have a lot of solid teams, that hopefully will provide us that experience and coming up against them in the second half of the year we’ll be a lot more competitive,” she said.
With a similar record to start the season, a win against Katandra would provide a big confidence boost to the young Rennie side.
The Grasshoppers have been drawing on the club’s under-17s side in recent weeks and it is set to be no different this week against the Cats.
“Katandra are always pretty strong and keeping an eye on the scores they seem to be again this year so I’m hoping it will be a pretty even game, but look, time will tell,” Mifka said.
“I think across the board we’ll have at least a minimum of three or four junior girls playing in the side this week.”
Rennie will take on Katandra at Katandra at 1.30pm on Saturday.
In other round five action, Katunga will play host to Jerilderie in a clash of fifth against sixth and Katamatite will travel to Picola United.
Tocumwal will be looking to continue its bright start to the year when it welcomes Blighty, while Tungamah will welcome the winless Deni Rovers.
Waaia, Strathmerton and Mathoura all have a week off.