With the club’s list evolving over the past two years, Ellis is also the Swampies’ most experienced regular senior player.

“We have lost a few of the older blokes in the last few years and brought a lot of younger blokes up,” Ellis said.

“I’m one of the old blokes now.

“Players like Nick Murray, Andrew Yates, Dylan Hore and Tyson Muller are improving each week.

“It was a bit of a wake-up call in round one but since then it’s been getting better and better.

“Hopefully we can keep going that way.

“It was nice to beat Osborne at Osborne last week as it doesn’t happen too often over there.”

Since being surprised by a fired-up Rand-Walbundrie-Walla in round one, Henty has rebounded with wins over Lockhart and Osborne to be sitting in sixth spot on the ladder.

The Swampies have a tough block ahead against top-three fancies CDHBU, Jindera and Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock.

“We have some tough ones ahead, starting with CDHBU,” Ellis said.

“They have had mixed results but played BB Saints last week who are obviously a tough side.

“We expect a tough game and it would be good to take another step in the right direction.

“It’s all about continuing to improve for us.”

Ellis, who is in Henty’s leadership group with Grant Schuller, coach Josh Gaynor and assistant-coach Heath Ohlin, said the Swampies were close to full strength.

“We are slowly getting there,” he said.

“Hayden and Derek Singe have been out but most of the boys are back playing.”

Jindera will be out to gauge its level of improvement this season when it hosts Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock.

The Bulldogs are sitting 3-1 after four matches and take on Saints and Henty before the inter-league bye.

“We have been going along OK although it was disappointing to drop the game against Osborne when we had seven more scoring shots,” he said.

“If we win the next two games that would be great, but 4-2 is probably a pass and I would say 3-3 would be behind where we expected to be.

“We will put as good a side as we can out on Saturday and see how we go.”

Jindera has its injury worries with Kris Holman (foot), Jake Miller (back) and Walker (hamstring) in some doubt.

Billabong Crows and Rand-Walbundrie-Walla lock horns at Oaklands.

Both clubs are sitting inside the top six with the Crows’ home advantage set to see them start slight favourites.

Luke Kuschert has been in outstanding form since joining the club from Corowa-Rutherglen and could prove a stumbling block in defence.

Holbrook take on Lockhart, Howlong do battle with Osborne and Murray Magpies play Culcairn.