HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR must ensure its at the top of its game if victory is to be gained against Caramut at Macarthur Recreation Reserve today.

Caramut suffered the indignity of being held scoreless at home against Glenthompson-Dunkeld last weekend and the Swans will be desperate to turn their form around against the Eagles, who also lost their opening round game.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur is still learning to play as a unit after gaining half a team of recruits over the summer, but the side played well last week in the wet, going down by a single goal against Wickliffe-Lake Bolac away from home.

Ollie Wortley, Rick Glare, Xavier McCartney, Dylan Parsons, Tommy Jones and Hamish Gleeson will be looking to replicate their form from last Saturday.

The home side will unleash its fleet footed outside players who will run off the midfield ball getters, as they attempt to run the opposition off their legs, while the Swans should be looking to play a more possession-based game plan in keeping the ball from the Eagles.

Caramut had a poor opening round, and the team will no doubt want to give its supporters cause to either celebrate or offer hope for the games ahead.

The Swans need the remainder of their squad to stand tall alongside Blake Evans, James Elford, Patrick Drake, Thomas Hutchings, Nathan Murphy and Kobi Bidmade, who all played well in round one.

Other games

DUNKELD Recreation Reserve is the venue for the next chapter in the local rivalry between Glenthompson-Dunkeld and Penshurst.

Today the Rams will face stiffer opposition from the Bombers, compared to the Swans last week, despite the red and black falling away against Great Western in the second half after matching the Lions in the first half.

Penshurst is a younger team this season than previous years, but Henry Bensch, George Huf, Ryan Smith, Jacob Mibus, Cooper Rentsch and Jack Kruger played well last weekend and the Rams will have to nullify their impact if they want to keep their winning streak going.

FRESH off defeating last season’s premiers Ararat Eagles, Tatyoon will play at home for the first time this season when it hosts SMW Rovers.

The Hawks should be too strong for the Bulldogs, who were soundly beaten at home by Woorndoo-Mortlake in round one.

WOORNDOO-MORTLAKE is at Woorndoo Recreation Reserve for its first home game of the season, hosting Wickliffe-Lake Bolac in one of only two games that feature two winning teams from round one.

The Tigers were too good for SMW Rovers at Willaura, but the team will have to double down today against the Magpies, who fought out a tough one-goal win against Hawkesdale-Macarthur last week.

THE other game which features two winning teams from last round will be at Great Western Recreation Reserve, as the home side hosts ladder leader, Lismore-Derrinallum.

The Lions overcame Penshurst away from home last Saturday, as they took their game to another level in the second half, and the team will have to start at that same level against the Demons if they want to record another victory.

The Demons were far too strong for Moyston-Willaura, generating 51 shots on goal to only five in reply and will be hoping to carry that form into this game.

WILLAURA Recreation Reserve will hold its second game this season today when Moyston-Willaura hosts reigning premiers, Ararat Eagles.

While Ararat is not the same side that took the flag last year, its still a potent force in the competition, while the Pumas struggled against Lismore-Derrinallum last week.