Captain Braden Hotker headlines the Lions' inclusions after missing round one with tonsillitis, joined by Jake Butler, Dylan Cox, Joe Higgins and Tom Bowman.

Coming out of the side that defeated Dennington in the first week will be Jack Dowd, Sam Hodgins (under 18s) and Luke Coughland (reserves), along with Michael Stacey and Eamon Dowd, who were both unavailable.

Lions coach Adam Matheson said regaining Hotker would embolden his charges against the Blues.

"He's one of the toughest players in the league," Matheson said.

"If you can't stand tall playing behind him, then I don't know what you expect from a captain."

Matheson said Nirranda was capable of punishing sides with the speed and precision of its ball movement, making their own possession doubly important.

"I watched them last week and you can't just boot it down the line," he said.

"So we'll aim to hang on to the ball and get through their presses as best we can.

"Our main focus will be on the first 15 minutes - we were pretty slow against Dennington and if we play like that against these guys we'll five goals down and with pressure on straight away."

Hotker said he couldn't wait to take the field after missing the first two weeks of football with an illness and the club's bye.

"I'm pumped and ready to go," he said.

"But it's always a tough game against Nirranda.

"They're probably best known for their hardness at the footy, so if we can match that we might be a chance."

South Rovers are hunting for their first Warrnambool District league flag since 2007's six-point triumph over the Timboon Demons.

But Hotker said his major goal for the season would be to lead the club to its first finals win since 2011, when it made a semi-final.

"I've been at Rovers for six years and we haven't done it, so hopefully this is the year," he said. "It would be unreal."

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.