Funding to duplicate train tracks in the Geelong region is expected in the federal budget in a last ditch bid to retain Victoria's most marginal seat.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is set to unveil a $700 million pledge for Sarah Henderson's seat of Corangamite, held by just 0.03 per cent, when he hands down his first budget on Tuesday, it was reported this morning.

Funding to duplicate 12.6 kilometres of track from South Geelong to Waurn Ponds will come on top of billions already pledged in a bid to save the seat of Corangamite, which takes in Geelong and the Surf Coast region.

Doggies blow away Power in netball opener

An experienced Dennington welcomed 16-year-old youngster Zoe Fleming to its line-up for the first time as it overcame Kolora-Noorat on Saturday.

The Dogs were too strong for the Power, winning 60-34 to get their Warrnambool and District Football Netball League season off to a positive start.

All the netball action in season opener

Aussies will be a World Cup threat: Arthur

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur has declared Australia will be a threat at the World Cup, having watched them steamroll his team 5-0 in an ODI series.

Arthur, who coached Australia from 2011 until 2013, was thoroughly impressed with how clinical some of his former charges were during the past fortnight.

"I definitely think they are (capable of winning the World Cup). They're travelling really well," Arthur said.

"All the final jigsaw parts are coming together nicely.

"Australia look a very, very good side They will be a threat at the World Cup ... I think there's up to seven teams that can win the World Cup.

"You get Warner and Smith back, you put Starc and Cummins back into that line- up. It's pretty formidable," Arthur said.

Usman Khawaja, one of four players who Arthur decided to send home from a 2013 tour of India during the 'homeworkgate' saga, top-scored with 98 on Sunday as he continued an impressive run of form.

Govt offers $1b to move regional freight

The federal government will announce an additional $1 billion to upgrade roads that feed into major highways in the budget, as it looks to boost its standing in the regions.

The additional amount, aimed at upgrading freight networks so goods are delivered faster in the regions, will take the total spend on the Roads of Strategic Importance program to $4.5 billion over 10 years.

The money will go to at least seven freight corridors across Queensland, Victoria, NSW and Tasmania, The Australian reports.

"These upgrades will support industries and communities that are critical for freight and tourism," Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said.

At this stage it is not known if the funding will impact on the south-west, but we're asking the questions.

First Frydenberg budget may be short-lived 

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will hand down his first federal budget on Tuesday but Labor is promising to overwrite it immediately if it wins the May election.

The 2019/20 budget will be a virtual election campaign blueprint, but Labor says if it is elected it will deliver its own budget before September.

"If we win, we will bring down a major economic statement in the third quarter of the year, which will in effect be the first budget of a Shorten Labor government," shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said.

"We need to reset the economic settings. We need to update the forecasts with the new government in place."

The coalition government is expected to deliver a budget surplus for the 2019/20 financial year - the first in a decade.

Kangaroo pet food trial ends following damning report: claims MP

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick said that on Friday the Andrews Government announced it will extend the kangaroo pet food trial for six months before ending it and switching to an alternative model, but Mr Meddick says that's not good enough.

He said the trial was introduced in March 2014 as a way to ensure kangaroo carcasses could be 'put to use' instead of being left to rot, but a leaked government report showed that it actually resulted in more kangaroos being killed and left to rot than before.

The report also found shooters were incentivised to kill for financial gain when there was no evidence to show 'population control' was needed.

Warrnambool district footy kicks off

Kolora Noorat were the big winners, Dennington disappointed, Panmure improved and Timboon Demons earned the premiership points.

Five footy moments

Warner piles pressure on selectors

Aussie opener David Warner and IPL teammate Jonny Bairstow set a record for the highest opening stand in the with both players notching centuries for Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.

Warner and Bairstow put on 185 in just 16.2 overs in a 118-run victory over Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore, surpassing Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn's opening stand of 184 against Gujarat Lions in the 2017 season.

Former Australia vice-captain Warner is fighting for a World Cup spot after completing a 12-month suspension for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town last year.

Sicily penalty in Hawks loss sparks debate

Rodney Eade thought it was disgraceful, Alastair Clarkson didn't want to know about it and Luke Beveridge was just glad it got paid.

Once thing is certain: the pivotal free kick against James Sicily late in the Western Bulldogs' stunning come-from-behind win over Hawthorn at the MCG will be hotly debated.

With the scores level and just under five minutes left in Sunday's clash, Josh Schache was awarded a free kick directly in front of goal for what appeared to be little more than a push and shove with the Hawks firebrand.

There appeared to be no high contact and no clenched fists in the off-the-ball incident that was whistled as the ball was about to be bounced in the centre after a Bulldogs goal.

Some would argue that with the game so evenly poised Sicily should just keep his hands to himself, but former Dogs coach Eade saw the contact and immediately labelled it "a disgraceful decision" on Triple M.

Schache's goal from the free was the sixth of eight unanswered majors as the Dogs overcame a 30-point three-quarter time deficit to win by 19.

​Tops in the high teens across the south-west

There's the chance of fog early this morning across the south-west.

It will be cloudy with a slight 20 per cent chance of a light shower this morning and there will be light winds.

Warrnambool is expecting a top temperature of 17 degrees, ​Hamilton 19, Colac 18, Ararat 19, Casterton 20, Mortlake 18, Heywood 19, Portland 17, Port Fairy 17, Terang 17 and Camperdown 16.

A high pressure system just west of Adelaide will cross Bass Strait today, reaching the Tasman Sea on Tuesday as a weak cold front crosses waters south of the Bight.

The tail end of the front will clip southern Victoria later on Wednesday, while another high will rapidly cross the Southern Ocean and be located just west of Tasmania by Wednesday night.

The high will move over the southern Tasman Sea on Thursday as it extends a ridge over southeast Australia.

Warrnambool for the rest of the week is expecting a top of 22 on Tuesday, 18 on Wednesday, 22 on Thursday, 27 on Friday, 17 Saturday and 18 Sunday.

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