The 18-year-old spinner knows he'll get be hit for the odd boundary, but is working to close the gap between his best and worst ball.

Josh Stapleton and Jeremy Burgess, who co-coached the Tigers for three seasons prior to Justin Lynch's appointment, handed Fleming a division one debut in 2018 and his form has climbed dramatically with experience.

He's now the Tigers' equal most prolific bowler, sharing a five-wicket tally with Stapleton atop the club's bowling aggregate.

"I'm feeling a lot more comfortable now. It took a few goes to get it right," Fleming told The Standard.

"I feel like my bowling is there with it and hopefully I can keep going the way I am.

"You know that you're going to get hit every now and again but you've just got to keep fronting up.

"They're (batsmen) are going to go after me. If I just keep the pressure on hopefully we'll get some wickets or we'll get some up the other end."

Fleming said Lynch's backing was a boost to his confidence.

"He's given me the full nine overs each week so far," he said.

"He just backs me up to do what I need to do. I'm able to set the field accordingly and it's all good from there."

Merrivale is winless so far this season but has endured the most demanding fixturing of any Warrnambool and District Cricket Association outfit.

It battled Russells Creek in week one, reigning premier Brierly-Christ Church in week two and will face grand finalist Woodford on Saturday.

Fleming said Merrivale had been "fairly competitive" and lamented "a couple of dropped catches and runs in the field".

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