Dogs mentor Jacob Rhodes highlighted winning the ball first out of the coalface was the only way his side could negate the impact of the Blues forwards Travis Graham and Aaron Searle, who kicked 16 goals in their debuts for Nirranda last week.

“They have great forward line and it's going to come down to our midfield,” the second-year coach said. 

“We are going to have to win some footy out of the stoppages and centre clearances and get it going our way.

“Throughout the game it's mostly going to be about stopping that delivery into that very powerful forward line.

“Tully Allwood, Angus Chirnside, John Vincent and a few other players will rotate through the midfield and those boys will have to be on their game, winning the hard ball and be accountable when Nirranda have the ball.”

The Dogs’ midfield will come up against a stacked Nirranda midfield that includes new recruit and former Hampden league premiership player Isaac Templeton, Will Paulin and Peter McDowall.

The two clubs will play for the Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Warrnambool Perpetual Trophy for the first time and wear green laces in support of the foundation and the Gillin brothers.

The trophy donated by Vera Brady and Michael Ryan will be awarded to the club with the most wins over the day.

Chris Gillin said the feature match idea came from family friend Tom Brady, a former Dennington footballer.

Gillin’s father Ashley played for Nirranda. He was also pleased by the amount of support the south-west had shown.

“It’s great that so many parts of the community are getting behind our cause in the hope of finding a cure,” he said.