Though Souths has walked off the field as victors twice from their three matches so far this season - Panthers beating them 5-2 in their most recent match - inadvertently fielding an ineligible player means they were stripped of one of those wins.

It has Souths sitting in fifth in the six-team competition - not a spot Stafford or his players wish to be in. That's why beating Zig Zag, the only outfit ranked below them, is a must.

"I am very happy with how they have been playing. I wasn't there for that last game, but from all reports they played well and did what we are trying to do, Panthers were just that bit too good," he said.

"To make the finals I think you need to be there and thereabouts knocking on the door after the first full round and we've got some tough games coming up against CYMS, Pat's and Feds, we still have some quality opposition to play.

"We need to get some points to drag ourselves back up there."

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While Zig Zag has not only gone winless through the first three rounds but also failed to score, Souths will head into Saturday's match as favourites.

Sam Brown has been rewarded for her solid performance against Panthers with starting position, but Stafford is happy to keep tweaking things as he looks for the best combinations each game.

"Our side has been a little bit different each week, but all the girls are still getting the job done. We just have to keep focusing on what we want to do," the coach said.

"We know that playing Zig Zag in Lithgow is tough and we can't take any game lightly. We were up 4-1 against them last year and ended up having a draw against them.

"They have been playing a bit of 11 behind the ball, but we just need to play our own style and stick to what we have been doing."

Saturday's game starts at 1.30pm.