The only way is up for both sides when the Otago Spirit faces Hawkes Bay in a women's national provincial championship match at Bathgate Park today.
Both teams had forgettable starts to their seasons last week. Otago lost to Wellington 57-0 while Hawkes Bay was thumped 60-0 by Canterbury.
So the sides have plenty of improvement in them and Otago Spirit coach Tim Belcher said the character in the team was still strong.
The team also has the benefit of having former Black Fern prop Bath Mallard back from injury today.
She had a delayed start to the season because of a calf injury but has been cleared to play today.
Belcher said the side's set piece last week had been reasonably competitive but the Wellington backs had been too quick for Otago.
Belcher has put Claire Smith into halfback from the No 10 jersey, while Maxine Maginess comes into first five-eighth from the reserves bench.
The side would need to hold on to the ball for a longer period of time, and make the most of the chances which came along, he said.
Belcher said the side was keen to get into the game, and had put last week's loss behind it.
The side had lost the likes of Zoey Berry, Carla Hohepa, and Kelly Brazier and is missing some experience in the backline.
The forwards were competitive last week and it will be up to them again to set a platform to help Otago get some ascendancy at the breakdown.
Belcher felt another week together would help the side, as many of the players had just come off a heavy club season.
Fitness levels were improving, he said, and more training and games together would undoubtedly help.
The side had struggled for territory last week and the bigger boot of Maginess would undoubtedly help it get into the position to get on the scoreboard.
Hawkes Bay is also looking for its first points of the season, having gone down 60-0 to Canterbury.
Belcher will want a better Saturday than he did last weekend, when after watching the Spirit lose heavily, he had to stomach the Southern side he co-coaches being beaten in the semifinal, after an unbeaten season.
• Otago Spirit v Hawkes Bay
- Bathgate Park, 12.30pm, today
