After a flying start to the season, the young Magpies outfit has hit a tough patch, suffering two losses and a draw from their last three matches.

To be fair, it has been as tough as it gets ... Broadmeadow Magic, Hamilton Olympic (FFA Cup), Lambton Jaffas, and this weekend Edgeworth.

"With all our young players, if you said to me at the start of the season that we'd be sitting third on 19 points after nine rounds, with six wins and a draw, I'd have grabbed it with both arms," coach Mick Bolch said.

"But this is certainly an important match for us."

After a slow start, Edgeworth have clawed their way up to fifth on the ladder, and in recent weeks have been bolstered by the return of classy attacking players Adam Cawley and Will Bower.

Throw in big guns, Kiwi international Jeremie Brockie and former A-Leaguer Josh Rose, and it's a challenge for any defence - and that's an area Bolch wants to see improved.

"Defensively we've had lapses and you can't get away with it at this level," he said. "They'll punish you. You have to concentrate for the full 90 minutes. But that's the thing with young players. They lack the week in, week out consistency you get from more experienced players. And it takes time.

"The two goals against Lambton last week were both errors on our part.

"And we conceded three in the FFA Cup against Olympic ... you're not going to win too many games when you concede three times.

"I think we've only kept two clean sheets all season, which isn't good enough."

It will probably mean a few fresh faces in the Magpies' starting eleven at Cooks Square on Saturday.

"I think some of the players are looking a little jaded, and we have good players on the bench. They deserve their chance ... fresh legs and the enthusiasm and desire to grab their opportunity."

When pressed, the coach said that Jimmy Thompson, who scored a cracking goal last weekend, and midfielder Sean Pratt would need to play well.

"Sean has been dominant in midfield, and Jimmy has scored three from his last three matches, so we need them to continue to perform.

"And we have Matt Swan back now with a couple of games under his belt and he'll play an important role too."

On the positive side for Maitland, after this tough run they have a string of very winnable matches.

What they'd give for three points against Edgeworth - and a certain Mr Bolch wouldn't mind a clean sheet either, for that matter.

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