Former South Warrnambool key defender Matt Sully, whose clearance from NEAFL club Southport came through on Tuesday, and the returning Sandy Robinson, who will bring VFL experience from Geelong and Port Melbourne, headline the Seagulls’ inclusions for the Gardens Oval clash.

Adam McCosh, who lost his place during the Seagulls’ 2016 finals series, will complement Robinson in the ruck.

Dennington recruit Jordan Scott will slide into the back six alongside Sully.

His former Dogs teammate Kurt Smith will rotate between midfield and half-forward in his Hampden league debut.

Koroit has also promoted new faces with Terang Mortlake veteran Damian O’Connor, Merrivale premiership player Alex Pulling and teenagers Frazer Robb and Ethan McLaren – both of whom have ties to junior club Hawks – named.

The Saints will be without injured skipper Isaac Templeton and his premiership teammates Tim McPherson, Jayden Whitehead, James Gow, Jarrod Korewha, Daniel Harrington and Tom Lynch.

Port Fairy coach Brett Evans said a long-term injury to ruckman-forward Robbie Hare was the only blight on the Seagulls’ pre-season.

Hare injured his knee in a practice match and could miss up to three months.

Evans said the Seagulls were eager to atone for their five-point preliminary final loss to the Saints and were confident their inclusions could have an immediate impact.

“Sandy’s been really good. His professionalism and experience is fantastic,” he said.

“All the guys have known him for a fair while and it’s great to have him a part of it.”

The Seagulls were forced to sweat on Sully’s availability for the standalone fixture.

“We weren’t too concerned. We knew it would always happen but we were running out of days,” Evans said.

McLaren said Templeton was battling a hamstring issue he carried throughout the 2016 campaign and Daniel Harrington would require surgery on a bone spur on his hip, ruling him out for a chunk of the season.

But he said he was excited to see Robb and McLaren, who is in the TAC Cup system, debut for the Saints.

“Frazer impressed in the Torquay (practice game) with his physicality for a young man,” McLaren said.

“Ethan is really, really quick and a good goal kicker.

“He’ll certainly give opposition grief with his pace.”