Both Nhill and Dimboola were without key goal shooters.

The Rats posted a 37-goal win against Dimboola, who were without gun shooter Alex Saxton.

In the previous round they easily accounted for Nhill without Ballarat Pride representative Georgia Batson.

Ararat coach Megan Shea said the absences were helpful, but they would rather face teams at full strength.

The Rats remain undefeated this season and Shea said they had set themselves the goal of bettering the first half of their season's results.

"We have set ourselves the task of trying to improve our performances against each team we meet," Shea said. "In the first part of the season we were stopping and starting with byes and interleague and we couldn't really get into the flow.

"In the second half of the season we should be able to get more of the girls together and we have a lot to work on in training."

Ararat led at every change as the Roos valiantly tried to battle above their weight division with regular defender Abbey Newton teaming with Shannon Pietsch in attack.

Shea continued her dominant season with 50 goals.

The Rats coach said Tahnee Waterson and Rebecca Skrabl were her side's best.

"They played a really lovely game in defence," she said.

"There was a really big hole left by Jade Fiscalini when she left, but these two have really stepped up."

Kristy Yole was best for Dimboola.

In other matches, Nhill returned to form, with Batson at the fore with 42 goals, recording a 44-goal victory against Horsham United.

Brianna Burke led Horsham back to the winners' circle with 33 goals in their 11-goal win against Minyip- Murtoa.

Stawell continued its run of form with a four-goal win against Horsham Saints, which sets up a Grampians showdown with Ararat on Sunday.

Shea said the Rats would be ready for a tough encounter.

"It is always a battle with Stawell, they are quite tough through the centre with the Antonio girls and Jade Cross," she said.

"They are quite fast, agile players so it should be great to watch, and we will get a good workout there."

This week: Saturday, Dimboola v Nhill, Minyip-Murtoa v Warrack Eagles, Horsham Saints v Horsham United. Sunday, Ararat v Stawell. Horsham, bye.

For more netball, see today's Mail-Times.