The Kangaroos experienced their first loss of the Kyabram District League A-grade season last week after a faultless nine matches in 2021.
Murchison-Toolamba shocked the competition as it dealt the talented Kangaroos a 43-37 defeat.
And what better way to inform their opponents they are still the team to beat than with a match against the second-ranked Eagles.
Last week's slip had the Roos drop down to third spot ahead of the clash at Central Park in the league's Indigenous Round.
Girgarre coach Abby Pettifer suspects a sense of complacency may have crept into her side after months at the top of the table.
“It certainly gave us the shock we needed. I think it showed we may have become a bit complacent in our heads,” Pettifer said.
“Having a few weeks off probably didn't help either, but full credit to Murch, their goalers were remarkable.
“A loss isn't too bad at this stage of the season. Hopefully it gets us mentally prepared for the coming weeks against some very hard teams.”
Making things tougher for the travelling Kangaroos, they will be without versatile option Danielle Jones due to unavailability.
Shepparton East boasts a talented line-up, one that is coming off a rampant win over Ardmona last week.
Pettifer wants to see her side get back to playing its style after it went away from its structure in the loss to Murchison-Toolamba.
“I think last week we just got too caught up with who to stop. Instead of playing our game we played into theirs,” she said.
“You do want to focus on the players to stop, but we probably need to balance it a bit better with focusing on what we need to do and on our structures.
“It should be a very good game of netball. Hopefully we can come out firing. We don't want to drop two games in a row.”
The battle for sixth spot will reach fever pitch on Saturday when Merrigum hits the road to take on Murchison-Toolamba.
The Hoppers, fresh off delivering Girgarre its maiden defeat, will be out to pinch sixth from Merrigum.
The Bulldogs’ defensive end, led by talented goal keeper Breanna Baker, will be tasked the difficult job of curtailing the Hoppers’ potent attacking end.
Lancaster will be looking to trim the buffer between Merrigum and the Hoppers with an away match to Violet Town.
The Wombats are in eighth spot and one win behind the two outfits.
But the Towners — after a classy performance against Stanhope — have kept the door slightly ajar on their season and a win will draw them level with Lancaster.
Lastly, ladder leader Tallygaroopna hosts Ardmona, fourth-placed Dookie United comes up against Undera and Avenel welcomes Rushworth.
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