Wimmera Football League players will travel across the border to take on the Murray Football Netball League in Community Championships at Moama on Saturday.
The squad had about 30 players on the track for its second-last training run on Tuesday night.
Coach John Delahunty said the group displayed a positive attitude despite only being able to train
“We are very excited. It’s been quite a quick and short build up but we have come together well as a group.”
Stawell featured six players in the 30 man squad, including player-coach Tom Eckel and star defender Jackson Dark.
Warriors forward David Andrivon was also named in the squad, following consecutive five goal hauls.
The league’s representative team has won its past two encounters in 2015 and 2016.
It will look to make it three in a row when it runs onto Moama Recreational Reserve on Saturday.
Delahunty expects the small ground will help his side play to its strengths.
“The success of the Wimmera League has been based on the strong contested football,” he said.
“We don’t necessarily have a lot of big bodies but the competitiveness of the players will always hold us in good stead.”
The Wimmera side is likely to be outsized by its opposition on Saturday meaning Kieran Delahunty, Jackson Dark and Rhona Conboy will have important roles to play.
“I’ve been doing a bit of homework and the Murray League have a lot of strong bodied midfielders and potentially have some big targets up forward,” coach Delahunty said.
“They will have a lot of players to pick from because it is a highly populated area, no doubt they will put a strong team out there.”
The Murray League has already played its first five rounds of the season meaning its players may be more prepared that their Wimmera counterparts who have only played three games.
Much of the Wimmera squad that defeated Sunraysia last year has put its hand up again this season.
The Championship football experience that has built within the squad will continue to help the league’s ambition to move up the rankings.
“Guys like Tom Eckel and Conboy have already played quite a lot of interleague and they are only in their early 20s,” Delahunty said.
“We have played in close physical game recently so everyone knows what to expect.”
Ben Lakin and Jack Mentha are among a handful of players that are a chance to play their first games for the senior squad.
A close eye will also be kept on Deek Roberts and Sam Winfield who will represent the league for the first time since making the jump from the Horsham and District league.
“They are both in great form it will be good to see how they go making the step up,” Delahunty said.
The first bounce of the senior game will be at 2.10pm.
