The first-year coach is experimenting with positional changes as she works to mould her side into one of the Hampden league's most versatile teams.

Billings believes young gun Tahni Porter - one of the league's brightest goal attacks - could run more through the midcourt.

"We gave Tahni a run out of goals against Portland (on Saturday) as we wanted to give her that bit more versatility," she said.

"She's only really played goals at North. I'm going to focus on giving her a run through midcourt.

"I was thinking it'd be good to have that extra midcourter in case something does ever happen and we need someone to run through there.

"We also had Georgia Corbett come and have a run as well as Ella Grundy came on and played both attack and defence for me."

Billings said increased versatility would give her side more options relating to matchups.

"If it's falling down somewhere, or I need to go back into shooting, we'll have the options to fill in those gaps," she said.

As for now, North is sitting pretty. The Eagles are building up to their best and currently occupy fourth place on the ladder ahead of two vital clashes against Hamilton Kangaroos and Terang Mortlake.

After that, more tests arrive. They will play Cobden, South Warrnambool and Warrnambool in successive weeks.

Billings is satisfied with her side's start to the season but isn't complacent.

"The first five rounds are the hardest, I think," she said.

"But it was great for us to test where we're at and what we needed to work on."

As to where the side needs to get better?

"Our defensive end, always. That's a huge goal for us. The girls are just starting to get used to working as a three slash four," Billings said.

"Each week depending on how everybody is performing and who we come up against, it's very much about match-ups.

"Sometimes Georgia (Corbett) might be at wing defence, sometimes she might be back, or vice-versa.

"For me, it's just trying to keep the girls versatile and knowing their role for the week so they can get on the court and play their best game."

But it's a simple style of coaching in which Billings is putting her faith.

"Back to basics is my biggest thing this year," she said.

"Passes need to be direct, leading towards the ball.

"Having fun is another one because when we're having fun we're getting around each other and that is when we play our best netball."

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.