Portland’s Connor Giddings and Koroit’s Connor Hinkley will become the eighth and ninth Hampden league players to make their Rebels debuts this year, joining recent first-gamers James Cleaver (Hamilton), Matt Clarke (Cobden), Harris Jennings (Portland), Jed Henderson (South Warrnambool), Ben Annett (South Warrnambool), Toby Mahony (Camperdown) and Josh Mawson (Hamilton).

Rebels coach Marc Greig said that Giddings was ready to step into the side after competitive performances with Portland and a strong showing at training.

“The way he has been training has been pleasing for us,” the first-year Rebels coach said.

“We wanted to get him in and give him a game and all we expect from him is that he competes up forward and goes for his marks and if not we can try him in the back half if we need to.”

Greig said Hinkley had progressed well since having ankle surgery just before Christmas and had done everything right to get himself fit and ready for his debut on Saturday.

The Rebels coach also said that the Saints export and Ballarat Grammar student would be tried in a few different positions, similar to Giddings.

“We have had some chats with Connor (Hinkley) and said that with his size and his competitiveness we saw him as a half-back flank type player,” he said. 

“He said he has spent a lot of time up forward as a junior, so we will start him forward, but we would think long-term he would slot into that half-back flank, as he has a nice penetrating kick and is good one-on-one, which has been two of his attributes that really stood out to us at training.”

Cleaver has retained his spot in the Rebels’ back six, after Greig said the Kangaroos export was good one-on-one defensively and that he adjusted well in his first TAC Cup match.