Stabilization of tailings dams often requires ground improvement at the downstream toe to provide a competent foundation for buttress construction. In sensitive settings, conventional construction methods involving open excavation, significant vibration, or other disturbance mechanisms may pose unacceptable risks to dam integrity. A field trial was conducted to evaluate the Excavator Displacement Technique (EDT), a low-impact ground improvement method, in sloughed tailings downstream of an upstream-constructed tailings dam. The study assessed its feasibility, constructability, and performance. EDT uses controlled lateral and downward agitation by an excavator bucket to liquefy loose, saturated material, in this case tailings, in situ. The liquefied material is then displaced and replaced with coarse rockfill. Several EDT panels incorporating different rockfill sizes were constructed using two excavators of differing capacities, achieving depths of 2 to 3 m before reaching the native foundation soils. Test pits confirmed complete replacement of the loose tailings and successful penetration into the foundation soils. The 300-600 mm rockfill gradation exhibited the highest hydraulic conductivity and shear strength and was selected for a subsequent full-scale construction program. Instrumentation during the trial indicated that pore pressure increases were localized and dissipated without adverse impacts. Overall, the trial demonstrated that EDT is a practical and effective in-situ ground improvement method where conventional approaches are constrained by stability or constructability considerations.