NORTH Ballarat and Dandenong stand poles apart in the TAC Cup under-18 competition.

On face value at least.

The Rebels are unbeaten after two outings, while the Stingrays are yet to open their account ahead of their split round clash at Bendigo tomorrow.

That can quickly change though.

Rebels coach David Loader is sure to reinforce to his players that it could so easily have been a different story after they had just two points to spare against Geelong Falcons.

And Dandenong was not far away from an inaccurate, but undefeated Sandringham last round.

They meet in an all-country triple header at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, where Vic Country selectors will be looking at players with a view to naming a squad for national carnival trial games.

The Rebels regain Jake Neade, after he was unavailable, while Portland’s Ben Malcolm and Lachlan Cassidy from the Ballarat Swans will make their debuts.

Other TAC Cup games: Bendigo v Gippsland, Murray v Geelong.

THE REBELS under-16 development squad open their AFL Victoria country championships campaign at Bendigo today.

Coached by David Loader, they meet Dandenong Stingrays at the QEO at 1pm.

They follow up against Bendigo Pioneers on Sunday at 9.30am

Development squad: Tom Templeton (West Portland), Liam Hoy (Warrnambool), Will Austin (Daylesford), Nicholas Weightman (Bungaree), Jordan Payne (Lake Wendouree), James Richards (Horsham Saints), Mitchell Walsh (Hepburn), Sam Glover (North Ballarat), Joe Symonds (North Ballarat), Sam Baird (Clunes), John Paulin (South Rovers), Tyler Constable (Ballarat), Keegan Mason (Laharum), Jacob O’Beirne (Horsham Saints), Daniel Butler (Lake Wendouree), Josh Webster (Kalkee), Harry Ganley (Ararat), Joshua Lock (Dennington), Korry Smith (Dartmoor), Ben McLeod (Russell’s Creek), Toby Hutt (Sebastopol), Xavier Vearing (Ararat), Bill Parry (Navarre), Jayden Brennan (Emmanuel Hawks).