MARGARET Firth is thankful she is still able to bowl at all, let alone for her state.
The Warrnambool and District Indoor Bias Bowls Association (WDIBBA) member has been selected in the Victorian team for the sixth straight year.
"It's a great personal achievement to play at that level," she said.
"I'm very grateful I'm still able to play at that level after having two knee replacements in the last two years.
"I'm very grateful for the expertise of the surgeon and the physios up at South West Healthcare."
Firth will head to the Australian Indoor Bias Bowls Championships in Shepparton in late August along with 13 other south-west indoor bowlers.
She will play second in the ladies' fours at the titles after a prominent performance at the Inter-Group Championships in Ballarat last month and a successful state trial last weekend.
"We have a very experienced team," she said of her combination.
"Your main job there isn't to win your own game, it's to get points for your state so you have a better chance of winning the trophy."
The Jack Gore trophy is up for grabs, with Victoria claiming the top prize the past six years.
Firth cited Tasmania and New South Wales as Victoria's biggest threats.
"The competition is always quite fierce," she said.
Firth was looking forward to a change after representing the state in the ladies' triples the past three years.
Other WDIBBA members in the Victorian side are Rodney Wilson (singles), Maureen Drennan (ladies' pairs, skipper), George Draffen (men's triples, skipper), Shane Cashill (men's fours, skipper) and state debutante Gill Phillips (mixed fours, second).
Former WDIBBA bowler Anne Draffen (singles), who is based in Melbourne, was also picked.
Heytesbury bowlers who made the cut include Arthur Finch (singles), Jan Ovens (ladies' triples, skipper), Pam Wines (ladies' triples, skipper), Margaret Sumner (ladies' fours, skipper) and Lily Smethurst (junior ladies' singles).
Colac bowlers who will represent the state include Chris Price (men's pairs, lead), Jeanette Robbins (ladies' triples, lead) and Harvey Robbins (mixed fours, third).