The Warrnambool bowler is one of five Western District Bowls Division players in the 12-man West Coast Region team which will contest the Bowls Victoria titles in Corowa later this month.

Steel, who won a division one pennant flag with Warrnambool Gold in March, will join clubmates Ben Cornick and Barry Crimmin, Terang’s Jamie Heffernan and Koroit’s Brian Lenehan in the regional line-up.

Cornick will also make his state championships debut.

The West Coast Region side also includes Far Western and Corangamite-aligned players.

They were selected after a tournament in Mortlake at the weekend.

Steel, 37, said he was rapt to earn a call-up, especially given he’s a relative newcomer to the sport.

“I got the phone call on Sunday evening and I was actually a bit shocked actually because there are a lot of good bowlers there and I was lucky enough to get through,” he said.

“It will be very competitive but will be a good experience to play the best bowlers around.

“I can’t wait actually.”

Steel took up lawn bowls three years ago at the encouragement of his father Bruce.

The decision paid off, with the father-son combination playing in the same rink in Warrnambool Gold’s 2015-16 premiership side.

“I played cricket for years and my knee wasn’t flash,” he said.

“My father played for Warrnambool and was at me and at me, so I thought ‘righto, I’ll play’.”

Steel quickly progressed up the ranks after taking up pennant, only needing a handful of division two matches in his first season to earn promotion to the top grade.

He spent time in Warrnambool’s Blue and White outfits before cementing his spot in the all-conquering Gold line-up.

Steel will play as a leader for Lenehan at the state championships.

Lenehan, an experienced campaigner at the level, was anointed skipper for the first time.

“I am pretty stoked about having a crack at it,” he said.

“It is a really, really strong tournament.

“You never know until on the day how you’re going to go.

“You can win a few games and might miss out on a (finals) spot.”

The state championships, which include 16 regions, are on April 30 and May 1.