Romein was red carded in the recent clash with Melbourne City and missed Ballarat’s 3-0 victory over Sunshine George Cross last weekend owing to the mandatory one-match ban.

That was the Reds’ second win in succession and has the team fifth on the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 west division ladder.

Robinson said the squad was coming together nicely with competition for places “a good thing to have”.

“(We’ve gone from) having nine players out in the first game to having nearly everybody available,” Robinson said.

“We’ve got players in there who are forcing themselves into contention.”

Robinson said his team was pushing in the right direction on the back of two-straight victories.

The side travels to take on a Bendigo City outfit that sits eighth on the table after just one win from the opening eight rounds.

Bendigo City is looking to bounce back from a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Moreland Zebras.

Saturday’s Goldfields Derby – to kick off at 5.15pm – is the first leg of back-to-back away trips for the Reds, which head to Shepparton the weekend after for a fixture against Goulburn Valley Suns.