The Seagulls’ recruit hasn’t played a match at any level since injuring his shoulder against Camperdown on May 7, but will be thrown straight back into the thick of the action against Warrnambool on Saturday.

Coach Brett Evan said Rudland-Castles had trained the past three weeks and was raring to go.

“We think his preparation has been pretty good,” Evans said.

“He’s a good running player for us, but being his first game (back) he’ll be in the rotations through the interchange.”

Ben Polson is out of the side due to unavailability.

With two good wins under their belt the past fortnight, Evans said the Seagulls were ready for the challenge of taking on third-placed Warrnambool at Reid Oval.

“We’ve got the spirit up and the confidence is there,” he said.

“This is where you find out where you’re at: when you take on the top three teams.”

Camperdown is set to be bolstered by the inclusion of midfielder Luke Clarke, who coach Phil Carse says is a certainty to make his return from a calf injury against Terang Mortlake.

“It was a bit of a match-day injury that sort of niggled for a few weeks and he just couldn’t get over it,” Carse said.

“He’s had the full three or four weeks rest now so he is right to go.

“We’ve done the same with Cam Spence and a few others – just taking the cautious approach.

“But he’s a quality player, a best and fairest winner and played about 150 senior games – we know how good he is.”

Carse said Chester Gardner was “very unlucky” to be omitted, but having a player of Clarke’s calibre return forced the difficult call.

North Warrnambool Eagles has made two changes for its game against Hamilton Kangaroos, with Rory Taggert (broken leg) and Sam McKinnon out of the side for Sam Curtis and Lachlan Greig.

Small forward Curtis will make his debut at senior level on the back of a seven-goal performance in the reserves last week, while Greig has been earmarked for a role in the backline.

“He’s a really tough player and he can also be that run-with player as well,” Eagles co-coach Brendan Murfett said.

Murfett said the Eagles weren’t entering Saturday’s clash at Melville Oval lightly, knowing the Kangaroos can be a formidable force at home.