The top of the table Tigers will chase a fourth straight victory when they tackle the in-form Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes at Mangoplah Sportsground.

The two clubs are the form teams of the competitions with the fifth-placed Goannas looking for five wins on the trot.

Maiden is certainly not taking MCUE lightly.

"Particularly out at Mango," Maiden said.

"If you look at past results over the last month and they are the form side in the competition. Rowie has got them playing some good footy."

MCUE took it up to Tigers in their round two game earlier in the year, leading by nine points at half-time before the home team finished strongly to win by 31 points.

While the Goannas have certainly improved since then, Maiden believes so too have Tigers.

"I think we've certainly improved, in my opinion, we've improved a fair bit since the start of the year," he said.

"Obviously the aim each week is to be better than the week before and we're working hard towards that."

Tigers will welcome key defender Louis Beard back this week and he will likely get an important job on one of MCUE's tall forwards.

The Goannas will also welcome back a key defender in Blake Chapman, while coach Jeremy Rowe is in some doubt with a hamstring strain.

Maiden believes the midfield battle shapes as the key to Saturday's contest.

"Obviously their midfield is quite strong and along with that they've got a really strong forward line," he said.

"Ryan Price, whether he's in the midfield or up forward, is a good goalkicker for them and obviously George Kendall is going very well, he's definitely a very good young prospect, George. Obviously Andrew Dickins is a big strong presence for them as well so winning the midfield is going to be the key."

Tigers will be looking for their first win at Mangoplah Sportsground since 2015.

READ MORE