at Hepburn, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Hepburn 13.14 (92) d Daylesford 11.8 (74), round 3, 2016

Two of Hepburn’s key recruits will make their debuts in one of the club’s biggest games of the Central Highlands Football League season.

Luke Stanton and Sean Salmon were unavailable for the round one success against Newlyn last weekend, but have been called into the senior side for the spa country derby against rivals Daylesford.

Stanton, a former Carlton-listed player, landed at Hepburn from Greensborough during the off-season and adds class to the midfield alongside Salmon, who arrived from Yarroweyah.

The significant out for the Burras is onballer Dan O’Halloran, who suffered fractures in his back after an incident in the clash with the Cats.

“It’s just a big game for the town. Everyone loves it,” Burras coach Jason Olver said ahead of Saturday’s match, which will be played for the Bill Malone Cup.

“The rivalry is nowhere near as strong as it used to be, but it’s still there on game day.”

Daylesford coach Marcus Goonan said Will Austin and Toby Hughes withdrew shortly before last Saturday’s loss to Beaufort with respective groin and hand issues. Hughes is unlikely to play against Hepburn, while 

Austin is a chance to line-up in the clash.

Bulldogs recruits Mitch Steen and Jake Nicholson are also unavailable this weekend, Goonan said.

Prediction: Hepburn

Rokewood-Corindhap v Learmonth

at Rokewood, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Learmonth 8.9 (57) d Rokewood-Corindhap 4.4 (28), round 14, 2016

Rokewood-Corindhap has had to wait a little longer than the rest of the teams in the competition to embark on the new campaign.

But the Grasshoppers get the ball rolling this Saturday against Learmonth.

Rokewood-Corindhap’s senior side sat out the opening weekend of the season due to Smythesdale’s withdrawal from the league’s top division, but a number of senior players had a run in the reserves against the Bulldogs.

In a huge blow, a serious knee injury to Caius Barrenger will see the rising star miss much of the season, while new coach Jarrod Thompson has reported a quadriceps injury to recruit Sam Chapman, who will be sidelined for this weekend’s game.

Fellow signing Brendan Moyle is considered a senior player this year, but is also expected to spend plenty of time in recovery after breaking his arm against Smythesdale.

Learmonth coach Steve Biggin and his boys went down by 20 points in Sunday’s opener against Waubra, and while disappointed to lose, the non-playing leader found some positives in the performance.

The Lakies will be without ruck option Vincent White this weekend, while former Gordon player Jason Rae made a cameo appearance against the Roos, but has been cleared back to home side Edenhope-Apsley.

Prediction: Learmonth

Beaufort v Bungaree

at Beaufort, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Bungaree 5.5 (35) d Beaufort 2.5 (17), round 14, 2016

Beaufort is widely regarded as a premiership threat this season and here’s another chance to prove its credentials.

The Crows thrashed 2016 finals participant Daylesford by 83 points in round one and now get set to welcome Bungaree to town.

Beaufort coach Rohan Brown started his tenure in the best possible fashion last weekend, but knows this fixture presents another serious challenge against a top four rival.

“The competition being so even, there’s probably a good eight sides that could warrant top four,” Brown said.

“If you drop one and have a bad day, you are back in the pack.”

Brown said recruit Julian Cameron injured his knee in the win over the Bulldogs and he has been listed as an omission from the team along with Sam Howard and Chris Drew.

Star onballer Jack Duke remains sidelined once again due to a carry-over suspension from 2016.

Bungaree cruised to victory against Dunnstown last Saturday despite the absence of coach Heath Pyke, who was busy playing for Wendouree in its A-grade cricket grand final triumph.

Pyke is back for this match, but says he will play in the Demons’ reserves before coaching the senior team from the sidelines.

The Demons submitted an unchanged side from round one.

Prediction: Beaufort

Ballan v Buninyong

at Ballan, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Buninyong 12.5 (77) d Ballan 8.15 (63), round 16, 2016

Ballan: Recruit Jarryd Graham is away for the next few weeks, but the team welcomes back midfielder Jake Wilkie for this clash.

Wilkie was absent for the heavy loss to Gordon due to cricket commitments.

Buninyong: The Bombers are set to miss key recruit Lachlan Baker for the next few weeks following the discovery of a break in his hand.

The midfielder/forward is set to undergo minor surgery, which is likely to keep him out until after the May 13 interleague break.

Prediction: Buninyong

Dunnstown v Gordon

at Dunnstown, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Gordon 12.12 (84) d Dunnstown 10.9 (69), round 8, 2016

Dunnstown: Key figures Andrew Toan and Aaron Sawers are unavailable for the Towners' battle with Gordon.

Meanwhile, tall utility Angus Thompson hurt his knee in the loss to Bungaree last weekend, but has been named to play against the Eagles.

Gordon: Eagles coach Gary Learmonth expects to run out with an unchanged team to the one that easily handled Ballan in round one.

Gordon crushed their neighbouring rivals by 114 points on Saturday.

Prediction: Gordon

Waubra v Newlyn

at Learmonth, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Waubra 18.9 (117) d Newlyn 5.7 (37), round 15, 2016

Waubra: Recruits Jackson Kinna (ankle) and Alex Davis (unavailable) come out of the Roos' side that beat Learmonth on Sunday.

They have been replaced by James Petrie and Josh Crawford for this clash.

Newlyn: The Cats are set to be without one of their key onball recruits Dylan McLachlan for the next few weeks after he sustained an ankle injury in the loss to Hepburn on Saturday.

While a number of players are unavailable this weekend, the return of key backman Daniel Hammond is a boost.

Prediction: Waubra

Springbank v Carngham-Linton

at Wallace, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Springbank 32.13 (205) d Carngham-Linton 0.0 (5), round 15, 2016

Springbank: Tigers defender Justin Simpson has been left out of the team after a bad blow to the head in Saturday's win over Buninyong.

Simpson left the field in the third term and didn't return.

Carngham-Linton: Skipper James Nichols is the big inclusion for this game after missing the round one loss to Creswick due to cricket commitments.

However, the team is set to be without the experienced Jake Pring and Tim Clarke, who pulled up sore after playing the Wickers.

Prediction: Springbank

Creswick v Clunes

at Creswick, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Creswick 18.19 (127) d Clunes 3.8 (26), round 2, 2016

Creswick: The Wickers' key position stocks have taken a hit, with Clint Robinson and Matt Miller unavailable for this clash and Luke Robertson out after injuring a hamstring in the win over Carngham-Linton.

Recruit Paul Phillips is now free from cricket duties and has been picked to make his debut.

Clunes: It was a golden start to the year for the Magpies, which defeated Skipton in what was new coach Nemani Valucava's first game in charge.

That result leaves the team just one victory shy of the two it achieved throughout 2016.

Prediction: Creswick