Representative head coach Greg Middleton is bypassing the traditional pathway of initially naming an expanded training squad.

He is instead selecting a bare minimum 23 players for the clash with the Horsham and District league at Horsham City Oval on Saturday, May 23.

Horsham is ranked 21st and the CHFL 22nd in the 34-strong competition.

Middleton led Central Highlands to victory over Loddon Valley at Bungaree last year and went on to coach Bungaree to the CHFL premiership.

Now without club commitments, Middleton says being free to see players across a greater variety of teams is making it easier for him to assess form.

He said rather than go through the usual process of naming a large squad and then trimming, he would set the team in place early.

Middleton said this would allow players to know exactly where they stood instead of having to train over an extended period.

He plans to have invitations to players by next week, and then have two training sessions in the final week leading in to the country championship fixture.

Meanwhile, Ballarat Football League coach Shane Skontra hopes to finalise a training squad of about 35 players by early next week for the crucial clash against Bendigo.

Skontra said initial selection remained somewhat difficult as there had only been two rounds of BFL action.

There is also uncertainty over a number of North Ballarat Roosters-listed players, who are required to play two BFL matches before they are qualified for interleague.

Bendigo has already named a 70-strong squad that includes the likes of former AFL players Stephen Milne (St Kilda), Corey Jones (North Melbourne), Rhys Magin (Essendon) and Alik Magin (Gold Coast).

Ballarat is ranked fifth and Bendigo is sixth.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au

•  Ballarat v Bendigo at Eastern Oval:

Football: 1.30pm, senior football; 11.30am, under-18

Netball: 1.30pm, open; noon, 17/under

• Central Highlands v HDFNL at Horsham City Oval:

Football: noon, senior football; 10am, under-17.5

Netball: open, 17/under, 15/under, 13/under

• Maryborough-Castlemaine District v Ellinbank at Prince Park, Maryborough:

Football: 2pm, seniors; 11.45am, under-18; 9.45am, under-16

Netball: 2.30pm, seniors; 1pm, 17/under