North Ballarat Roosters will take on Northern Blues with a reshaped line-up in the VFL at Mars Stadium on Saturday.
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The Roosters have made five changes, including the loss of Hayden Walters to his second suspension for the season.
Walters pleaded guilty to striking Box Hill Hawks player Andrew Moore before the start of the third quarter, with the AFL Victoria tribunal handing down a one-match suspension.
First-year players Jacob Wheelahan and Jarrod Korewha, and Xavier Vearing have been forced out with niggling complaints.
Coach Marc Greig said Wheelehan could not be considered because of hamstring soreness, while Jarrod Korewha had groin soreness. Korewha has been 23rd man for the past two games.
Vearing, who rejoined the Roosters as a late addition to their list, pulled up sore in the hip area after his second appearance.
In their fifth change, the Roosters have left out Keenan Waterbury, who returns to Redan in the Ballarat Football League.
North Ballarat regains the experienced Andrew Hooper after missing two games with hamstring tightness and Tom Taurau for just his second game this season after groin and hip trouble, and recalls Jake McQueen.
Greig has also named Greater Western Victoria Rebels ruckman Lloyd Meek and Lochie Huppatz as 23rd man.
Meek has made one appearance with the Roosters this season as 23rd player, so this will be his first in the first-choice 22.
Huppatz steps up for first game after impressing with Sebastopol in the BFL.
The Portland youngster, who is in his first year on the Roosters’ list after moving up from the Rebels, had a late start to the season owing to a hand injury.
Despite North Ballarat having already met Williamstown, Essendon and Box Hill Hawks twice for the year, this is the first time its has played Northern Blues.
ROOSTERS LINE-UP (1pm start)
B: Taurau, Buckwell, Mellington
HB: Austin, Tate, Lyle
C: Rippon, Lusby, Cassidy
HF: Rodd, Cooke-Harrison, Hausler
F: Edwards, Hooper, McQueen
R: Meek, George, Kiel
Int: Perry, Keeble, Speirs, Weightman,
Emerg: Simpson, Jones, Waterbury, Cleary
23rd: L. Huppatz
In: Huppatz, McQueen, Meek, Taurau, Hooper
Out: Vearing, Walters, Korewha, Wheelahan, Waterbury
IN the meantime, Greater Western Victoria Rebels have the weekend off as part of a full TAC Cup break.
The Rebels sit 10th with five home and away matches remaining.
Although with only three wins, GWV is just half a game outside the top eight and a finals berth.
The Rebels face second-placed Geelong Falcons.
They will then take on Murray Bushrangers (fourth), Dandenong Stingrays (fifth), Calder Cannons (ninth) and Bendigo Pioneers (11th).
