Despite sitting third on the ladder with a 3-1 win-loss record, Higgins is preparing the Bushrangers for a tough run.

They play sixth-placed Western Jets at Norm Minns Oval on Saturday, followed by Calder Cannons (12th), Sandringham (second) and Oakleigh (fourth).

“I guess we thought there were games we could be competitive in early in the year, but now we move into a really solid block,” Higgins said.

“We play some pretty good metro sides.

“That will test us.”

The Bushrangers have made four changes with Doulton Langlands, Ben Kelly and Jacob Koschitzke playing for the GWS Academy side and Will Donaghey missing through injury.

Ryan Bruce and Mark Marriott come into the side, along with first-gamers Jack Schilg and Isaac McMillan.

Schilg and McMillan have been in strong form at club level for Corowa-Rutherglen and Yarrawonga and are expected to slot into defence.

Saturday’s clash against the Jets will be the Bushrangers’ first at home this season.

“It’s a small advantage for us bringing teams out of Melbourne,” he said.

“We have done a lot of travelling over the past six weeks, even our practice matches were in Melbourne.

“It will be a nice change for the boys.”

Although the Bushrangers comfortably defeated Northern Knights last weekend, they were wayward in front of goal with the exception of the second term.

Higgins says it will take a four-quarter effort to topple the Jets.

“They have some strong-bodied midfielders and the make up of their team is probably a bit similar to us,” he said.

“They have a couple of tall ruckmen as well.

“Marriott has come in to help that and we have high hopes for him over the next few years.

“Western Jets have won two of their games so our players will need to ensure their intensity and willingness to work hard for each other is at its optimum.”

Hudson Garoni, Ajak Dang, Zane Barzon and Matt Walker have just returned from representing the Australian level one academy team in New Zealand and will be rested this weekend.

The match starts at 1pm.

The team is:

B: Clarke, Paech, Beasley; hb, Schilg, Butts, Paton; c, Trotter, Wallace, Bruce; hf, Lane, Boyd, Wilson; f, J. Richards, Johnston, N. Richards; foll, Marriott, Jones, Hicks; inter, McMillan, Bond, Smith, Oakes, Frauenfelder; emerg, McIntosh, Dayman, Oates.