NORTH Ballarat last night called up Oliver Tate for a defensive role against Box Hill Hawks in tomorrow's VFL preliminary final at Box Hill.Tate replaces Clinton Benjamin.Tate has been in and out of the Selkirk Roosters' line-up all season, managing 11 senior appearances.He has predominantly played across half-back and it is in this capacity he takes the spot of Benjamin.The inclusion of experienced North Melbourne forward Corey Jones for the ineligible Gavin Urquhart, which was confirmed on Thursday, is the only other change to the line-up which defeated Casey Scorpions in a qualifying final two weeks ago.Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald said from a team structure point of view, Jones had replaced Benjamin and Tate covered the loss of Urquhart. North Ballarat is a warm favourite to win through to a third consecutive grand final, but meeting the Hawks on their home turf does not make the task any easier than it was already looking.The VFL caused a stir when it chose to give Box Hill the home-ground advantage for this critical all-or-nothing match. One of the possible benefits of finishing in the top two is a home final.There are no guarantees.The Roosters were not fazed about missing out on a home final, but there is an irony that they have to play the lower-placed Box Hill on its patch this far into the finals series.FitzGerald said the venue was not an issue.His main focus is naturally on ensuring North Ballarat can negate Box Hill, which has been playing as well as anyone in the latter stages of the season.The Hawthorn-aligned Box Hill has won nine of its past 10 games, with FitzGerald describing a last round 96-point loss to Williamstown as an aberration.With a new breed joining the experienced band of Shaune Moloney, Marc Greig, Matt Sharkey, Myles Sewell, Orren Stephenson, Dan Feery, Josh Smith, David Hale, Corey Jones and new JJ Liston Trophy winner Steve Clifton, FitzGerald said he had noticed a lift among the younger players since the qualifying final win. He said they were better for the experience.NORTH Ballarat Rebels assistant coach David Loader is coaching a team in a VFL/TAC Cup "young guns" match at Box Hill tomorrow.It is a curtain-raiser to North Ballarat's clash with Box Hill Hawks. Tom McDonald from the Rebels is playing in Loader's team.