Place, who sought a clearance from Pomborneit to Camperdown, will make his debut with his new club today and as far as captain Jye McLaughlin is concerned, it couldn’t come at a better time.

Camperdown, a semi-finalist last season, finds itself eighth on the nine-team ladder, with its only points coming from a bye and a draw in the first five weeks of the season.

McLaughlin said Place’s inclusion would boost the side, which is rebuilding after losing three of its best players from last year. Coach Chris Laurie, Andrew Williams and Matt Jeffreys, all Geelong-based recruits who were part of the association’s team of the year, have departed.

“We have three over 30 and the rest are 24 and under,” he said.

“We will rebuild with youth.”

He said today’s side included 14-year-old leg-spinner Callum McIveen and division one debutant 16-year-old batting all-rounder Tom Cheslett.

McLaughlin rates the third-placed Pomborneit but is hoping for an improved performance from his side today.

“Pomborneit has one of the strongest line-ups in the competition. If (opening batsmen) Steve Castle and Craig Sargeant get going, anything can happen. If anyone is to challenge Mortlake this year, Pomborneit can. One thing that let them down last year was that their bowling was very similar but with Steve O’Neill back that’s no longer an issue.”

He said Camperdown was keen to retain the Graham Hillman Memorial Shield, a trophy struck in honour of a legend who played at both clubs. Camperdown won it last season for the first time in five years.

But to do that, he wants his batsmen to step up.

“We’ve been bowling well to restrict sides to 190, 170 and 160 but we are letting ourselves down with the bat. We are not batting out our overs and we are playing shots that we shouldn’t too early.

“We are a young side. We’ll look to really take it up to Pombo.”

In other games, defending premier Mortlake hosts fourth-placed Terang, second-placed Cobden faces Bookaar and Heytesbury Rebels is at home to Boorcan.