However, no-one can match Edinburgh's tally of tries conceded (6), which stands at fewer than one per match so far.
The stumbling block appears to be at the other end, where they have run in just ten tries - only Zebre and Newport Gwent Dragons have fewer.
But Tonks, who will start against the Dragons on Friday night at full-back, is confident a miserly defence can lay the foundations for a successful season.
"Everyone has worked hard on that," he told the Edinburgh Evening News. "It is a key component of what we're trying to do. It sounds stupid, but if teams aren't scoring tries against you then you will be hard to beat.
"We haven't scored many tries though, but (backs coach) Duncan Hodge has come in and he has a clever attacking strategy he wants to implement.
"Hopefully, despite the weather, we will start to see some of that. I think sometimes spectators don't quite appreciate how hard it is to move the ball through the hands when it is like a bar of soap."
Friday's opponents are dwelling in the bottom half of the GUINNESS PRO12 table and, after following up three straight league defeats with back-to-back wins in Europe, Tonks admits victory is vital.
"You can't afford to slip up too often, especially now the Word Cup is over and all the teams have their top players back," he added. "Everyone has a full squad now. We have to win at home."
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