They've been a behemoth of the Orange Netball Association West Orange Motors Senior Competition's top flight, the Toyota Cup, for the past five years, but this year is proving to be a drastically different one for Hawks Royals.
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The two blues have won just two of their first six games, but it's not an inexplicable loss of form, with skipper Amanda Hurford saying her side's in somewhat of a rebuilding phase after plenty of player turnover.
Hawks lost Annalise and Alice Maier to other clubs and Erin Naden to the Orange Tigers, while Elise Woods, Emily Neal and Kellie Watson have all moved away or been unable to play in the opening stages of the season.
This year with a whole new side, it's a bit of a rebuilding year for us.
- Hawks Royals captain-coach Amanda Hurford
That's a huge hunk of the side that ran fourth last year, and an experienced group to lose too.
Zoe Basham, Sophie Banks, Olivia Dolbel, Siara Jawai, Jo Locke and Carly Wright have stepped into the side, but adding half a side is bound to cause growing pains, something Hurford acknowledges.
"This year with a whole new side, it's a bit of a rebuilding year for us," Hurford said.
"Obviously coming off the past couple of years with such a consistent team there's been a change of combinations."
They're far from down and out just yet though, the two blues remain just two points adrift of the top four heading into Saturday's seventh round and as a result Hurford's definitely not ruling out a finals appearance.
How could she, she and her troops are far too competitive for that, with a semi-final berth the expectation they put on themselves at the beginning of the season.
"I'd definitely think we're going to want to make finals, we spoke at the start of the year we still wanted to make semi-finals or that final game, we want to keep going despite rebuilding," Hurford said.
They will need to improve though, that's a fact, largely in terms of their consistency across four quarters.
There's no better time to do that than in Saturday's bumper clash with undefeated competition leaders Life Studio though.
"We need to make sure we're playing a [full game] and we're not dropping our heads. At times that can be an issue but it's not the only issue," Hurford said.
"Life Studio, they're a fantastic side, they've shown how good they can be each week against every side, it's going to be hard work and a tough contest."
The two blues take on Life Studio at Sir Neville Howse Stadium from 3.50pm, rounding out the seventh round's games.
Life Studio Mid West Eyes play the OHS Hornets first-up at 1.10pm before Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical clash with Life Studio Sportspower and Orange Physiotherapy Vipers play Orange City Epiroc, both from 2.30pm.
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