UPDATED: Report by Alasdair Beer

Pictured: Balcatta's Gustavo Catarcione in action against Perth in May.

Balcatta coach Ramon Falzon says his players have responded well to a frank mid-season review as they prepare to face old rival Perth SC in the Ferrari Cup at Dorrien Garden’s on Saturday.

Falzon’s side ended the first half of the season with an upset 3-1 loss to Armadale but have claimed seven points from the four games since in what the coach described as a positive change in attitude.

“Last year we just missed out on the Grand Final and some players took the attitude that we should be up there again,” he said.

“Unfortunately in football you have to work hard for it (success).

“Once the first round finished off, we had a lengthy chat with the players and they’re playing very well so far.”

Falzon said a key focus for his side was limiting the number of goals they had been conceding.

“Early in the season we were conceding an average of two goals a game,” he said.

“Although we were competitive, conceding that many goals hurt us.

“Going from an average of conceding two goals a game in the first round to just three in four games (in the second half of the season) is a massive improvement.”

Balcatta currently sit sixth on the table with Falzon eyeing a place in the top four.

“(League leaders) Bayswater are definitely out of reach, and I think (second-placed) Floreat are out of reach too,” he said.

“We will be taking it game by game to try to finish as high as we can.”

And he expects a difficult game against third-placed Perth, who were humbled by Bayswater in last week’s Rivalry Round encounter.

“I think they will be on the rebound, trying to regain ground on Floreat,” he said.

“I definitely expect they will come hard at us.”

Perth coach Taki Nicolaidis said his side desperately wanted to avoid losing to two big rivals in as many weeks.

“Outside the first 10 minutes it was all Bayswater - they were dominant all over the pitch,” he said of last week’s 2-0 loss.

“We need to move on and regroup, and I need a positive reaction from the group.”

Despite conceding overtaking Bayswater in the league was improbable, Nicolaidis said the onus was on his players to perform well throughout the rest of the year, particularly with spots available for their Westfield FFA Cup trip to Sydney on August 5 when they take on Rockdale City Suns.

“We need to submit our list by the middle of next week…we’ve probably got about four spots left and about seven players to pick from,” he said.

“It’s an important week for me and for them to show me they’re ready for the trip to Sydney.”

There will a moment’s silence before Saturday's game in recognition of the recent passing of former Perth SC members Esad Djulbic and Daniel Odina.

Saturday, July 23
Perth SC v Balcatta (Dorrien Gardens, 3pm)
Bayswater City v Cockburn City (Frank Drago Reserve, 3pm)
Perth Glory v ECU Joondalup (Inglewood Stadium, 3pm)
Stirling Lions v Armadale (Macedonia Park, 3pm)
Sorrento v Inglewood United (Percy Doyle Reserve, 3pm)
Subiaco v Floreat Athena (Rosalie Park, 3pm)