The Hawks have lost only one match and sit fourth on the ladder, posing a tough challenge for the Sovereigns’ young championship team.

But coach Guy Keane said the side’s focus would remain very much on themselves and improving from within in order to register its first win of the season.

After going down to Ariels by five goals in round one, Sovereigns have suffered 46, 40 and 24-goal losses since and will be hoping to be in the game much longer than it has in previous weeks.

Keane said the main area for improvement was maintaining its concentration throughout the full 15 minutes of a quarter.

Keane said on many occasions his young group would play a strong opening 10 minutes, but lose concentration and in turn control of the scoreboard.

While it is something that is always a challenge with developing groups, it will be at the top of the agenda on Wednesday night.

“We’re with teams for eight or nine minutes and then we lapse for five minutes and they get a volume of goals in a row,” Keane said

“For us, we need to make sure we’re breaking down the game into two quarters within a quarter. We find that we start (the quarters) really strongly and then we have a moment of lapse.

“It does come with that inexperience and that youth.

“(Another) major focus will be on continuing to build that defensive pressure. It was better last week, but it can increase a bit more.”

Sovereigns expect to have co-captain Freya Langston playing more minutes this week. Langston played only a quarter last week as she works back to full fitness.

While Chelsea Sartori is still working through an ankle injury and is hopeful of returning next week.

Meanwhile in division one, both Sovereigns and Hawks boast 3-1 records – making this a critical four points. The 19/unders will be looking for victory against a winless Hawks side.