Roos and Dragons set for top of ladder clash

The Roos and Dragons enter the round nine clash placed first and second on the league ladder.

Sandhurst became the first of the leading pair to blot the copy book last week, falling to reigning premiers Golden Square by eight goals.

Dragons coach Jannaya Webb was confident her players would respond well to last week's loss.

"It's another good challenge for us and a chance for us to come out and hopefully improve on some of the things we found didn't work for us last week," she said.

"Definitely our accuracy in shooting wasn't where it's been in the past, so obviously the defensive pressure was a lot greater.

"We need to get our accuracy back into the 80s (per cent) and higher and probably our defensive pressure coming out of the attack end into defence needs to tighten up."

The Dragons are hopeful of regaining Gemma Cusack, who has missed the past four games due to injury. 

Webb believed Kangaroo Flat had earned the right to be considered the competition benchmark to this point of the season.

"I've seen them play once this season against Gisborne and they are very fast and very smart," she said.

Roos coach Janelle Hobbs was expecting a tough battle against the Dragons and believed the team had exceeded even her own pre-season expectations.

"They're playing excellent netball at the moment and gelling really well," she said.

"We've set ourselves up for a good season, but it's important we keep going on with it now."

Hobbs expressed delight with the impressive form of her 15-year-old goal shooter Ruby Barkmeyer and nominated reigning league medallist Heather Oliver as a Dragons player whose influence would need to be curtailed.

"She's a standout and get a lot of the ball for them and we need to be wary of that," she said.

"And Brooke Bolton in the centre. I think her and Kelsey Sartori will have a great duel there.

"That will go a long way to deciding the match as well."

Meanwhile, Maryborough can challenge for Golden Square's claim on third position, when the pair clash at Barkers Oval.

The Magpies finished 12 goals shy of Kangaroo Flat last week and will need to be at the best to conquer a Bulldogs' team growing in confidence each week.

In other games, Gisborne hosts South Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye plays Kyneton and Eaglehawk is at home to Castlemaine.