A PRACTICE match against Hampden league side Camperdown has helped prepare Colac Tigers netballers for a clash with St Marys this weekend.

The Tigers played Camperdown in a practice match during the GFL bye last week.

The match-type practice session helped the ninth-placed Tigers hone their skills in the lead-up to tomorrow’s clash with the Saints at St Mary’s Oval.

Tigers coach Rebecca Finn said the hit-out against Camperdown was a benefit to her young side.

“It was terrific, a really good hit-out,” she said.

“I got to change a few positions that I wasn’t really sure of and do things you might not contemplate doing during a game.

“It was great to get away and just lift the level of intensity at

training.”

Tigers midcourter Shelley Scott underwent a fitness test at training last night and Ellie Cuolahan remained on the sidelines with a broken wrist.

Finn said combating St Marys tall shooters Erin Hoare and Kathryn Vickers was part of the Tigers’ challenge tomorrow.

“Erin and Kathryn shoot very well and we need to stop the supply to them to start with,” she said.

“It’ll come down to the midcourt and finding ways to stop the ball getting in there to start with.”

Finn said the Tigers’ young midcourt including Alana Park, Kelsey Lang and the injured Cuolahan had gained experience.

“We’ve been rotating Alana and Ellie through there and they are both young and have improved with each game,” she said.

“This is Kelsey’s first full year of court time at wing defence and she has been learning with each game as well; we certainly have the talent and the ability there, that’s for sure.

“We are developing that team knowledge you get from playing with each other and the trust in each other that comes with that takes time.”

In other GFL netball games, Bell Park clashes with Geelong West-St Peters, North Shore plays Lara and South Barwon takes on Grovedale.

Newtown and Chilwell travels to St Josephs and St Albans hosts Leopold.