Merrivale has quickly become a defensive force in the WDFNL

Coach Carly Peake said her much-improved team, which has won won five of its seven matches and sits fourth on the ladder, hasn't even starting working on its attacking game.

"We haven't done any work with our goalies," she said.

The proof is in the numbers - Merrivale's defence is helping it get the job done most weeks.

Peake's side is ranked sixth for goals scored this season with 310, but it's the second best (behind Nirranda) team defensively having conceded just 273 goals.

Peake confirmed her side had worked "a lot more on defence than offence so far".

"The first few weeks were solely focused on putting pressure on and forcing other teams to turnover," she said.

MORE NETBALL:

Peake wants her team's defence to get even better.

She said the Tigers were set to "put the foot down" and set goals for their defence in coming matches.

"Things like, lets keep them under 10 goals for the first quarter," she said.

The new coach said it would be ideal if her Tigers could score more often but admitted it hadn't been a priority.

Merrivale's highest score this season was 54 goals against Panmure in round two but its goal tallies have still been enough to keep most side's at bay.

The big question is: Does the Tigers' defensive game stand up against the competition's best?

So far the answer is yes.

Arguably the surprise result of the season was its low-scoring 36-35 victory over third-placed Dennington in round four.

Another notable match was the Tigers 49-47 loss to second-placed Old Collegians.

Merrivale got smashed by Nirranda 62-34 in round six but that result was skewed as the Tigers were missing five of their best players on that day.

But something the Tigers may want to be aware that Nirranda, Old Collegians and Dennington are proving they have serious firepower as we approach the midway point of the season.

Nirranda belted East Warrnambool 84-21 on Saturday.

Old Collegians has won its last three with scores of 72, 55 and most recently 78 against Panmure.

Dennington netted 74 goals against Allansford a fortnight ago.

The Timboon Demons, who the Tigers face on Saturday, are another high scoring team and have shot 390 goals this season - 80 more than Merrivale.

It's fourth versus fifth and will be a great opportunity to see how the Tigers stack up against another quality outfit under the net.

Unlike the Nirranda match in round six, Merrivale will be have more of its best players available.

Young goal keeper Tatum Cassidy will return from an ankle injury she sustained against South Rovers a month ago.

But the Tigers will most likely be without captain Nicole Ferguson who sustained a calf injury against the Lions as well.

Peake said Ferguson wanted to play but the Tigers will take a conservative approach.

"I think she's better off to have another couple of of weeks (off)," she said.

Peake said her Tigers had already proved they could win matches when undermanned.

She said her young players had stepped up at different stages with Eliza Ljubic playing a "a good couple of weeks".

Ljubic, normally a goalie, has been playing well in wing attack.

The Timboon Demons, which also has five wins this season, has had an up and down season.

But it has enjoyed a rich run of form in the past fortnight, including a victory against top-of-the-ladder Nirranda.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.