The MRG representative team of 10, known as the Maitland Jerks, hopes to build upon the form it displayed in March when it beat the Central Coast.

“We’ve developed really well since then,” MRG president Natasha Lloyd Jones said.

“We’ve worked really hard on our offence.”

In roller derby the jammer scores points each time she passes the opposing team’s four blockers who aim to stop her progress.

The attacking team can also use its blockers to aid their jammers progress through the pack.

“You’ve got to be able to switch quickly from offense to defence,” Lloyd Jones, who is also known as Tootsy Turbo, said. “Sometimes you’ve got to give up on offense and focus on defence.”

Penalties can also cost a team ­dearly with players off the track.

Maitland Jerks won’t give away points to the Brawlers lightly.

“We’ve worked on keeping our games cleaner too,” Lloyd Jones said.

The Maitland Jerks are hungry to rank in the Eastern Region Roller Derby (ERRD) tournament so they can take on the state’s best teams.

“A win this weekend would take us a step closer to that ERRD ranking,” Lloyd Jones said.

The sport has grown rapidly with more than 130 teams nationwide not counting the juniors or men’s teams.

Maitland Roller Girls aim to boost their profile in the region with a series of professional team photos and their own merchandise.

Maitland Jerks even has its own beef jerky.

“Like us, it’s pretty tough,” Lloyd Jones said.

The jam starts 6.30pm.