Koroit has taken a hit leading up to its mouth-watering clash with Warrnambool as three senior players, including skipper Brett Harrington, have been cut down with injury.
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Both sides are undefeated after three rounds with the Blues, first, enjoying a percentage of 325.19 and the second-placed Saints one of 184.09, meaning the winner will sit a game clear on top of the Hampden league table.
But Chris McLaren's side will face the Blues without Harrington (hamstring), Damian O'Connor (hamstring) and the Greater Western Victoria Rebels-listed Clem Nagorcka (foot injury).
Koroit's injury toll is now officially starting to pile up, with these three will joining Tom Couch, Will Couch, James North, Jayden Watson, James Gow and Jack O'Sullivan on the sidelines.
The Saints have brought in Seamus Brady, Thomas Mugavin and Brad Bell from the reserves.
Warrnambool also suffered an injury blow after Jed Turland was cut down in the second quarter of his side's 69-point drubbing of Camperdown last week, with his brother Beau stepping into the side.
But the 25-year-old, expected back for Warrnambool's round six game against Port Fairy, was in good spirits at the Blues' training session on Thursday and said Saturday's game at Victoria Park was an exciting prospect.
"I think we'll be very competitive," Turland said.
"Koroit are going to be the benchmark again and that's a credit to them.
"Beating them out there would be great, but I'd rather beat them in September than early May."
South Warrnambool has been forced to make sweeping changes with Hamish Gurry, Nick Thompson, Tanna Blackney-Noter, Jock Blair, Isaac Thomas and Corey Gallichan all out with injury.
Roosters coach Mat Battistello said while he felt for Blair, out for six weeks with a fractured wrist, the play-maker had done enough to get his attention.
But Battistello said he was excited to hand under 18 player Tate Porter his first taste of senior football, as well as bringing in Tom Wilson, Ethan-Jon Harvey, Tim Ryan and Heath Brennan.
South Warrnambool's opponent, Portland welcomes back Zane Barker from an ankle injury and Jake Wilson from an eye injury, with the Tigers leaving out Harry McIntyre and Tom Haylock.
Hamilton Kangaroos have made just the one change after Lachy Dawson's cameo appearance, with key defender Jandre Slabbert returning to the side.
"Jandre really steadies our back six," Kangaroos coach Matt Dunn said. "He's one of the better defenders in the competition."
Hamilton will face Cobden, which has lost Sam Uwland but recalled Charlie Darcy, Ryleigh McVilly and Tom Spokes.
Terang Mortlake has lost Matt Baxter (shoulder) for two to three weeks, while Mac Carlin was omitted. The Bloods will hand a senior debut to James Moloney, with the other inclusion yet to be determined.
"We made him wait for a few weeks, but he's showed enough form over the last few junior seasons to indicate he'll be a very good player for a long time," Terang Mortlake coach Michael Sargeant said.
Port Fairy has made three changes with Jim Conlan, Richard Bamblett and Lachie Glare coming in for George MacDonald, Sandy Robinson and Blake Carroll.
Camperdown has brought in Jack Williams and Pele Manivong for Mitch Danahay (knee injury) and the suspended Fraser Lucas, while North Warrnambool Eagles have named Zac Urquhart, Sam McLachlan and Mitch Bowman on the extended bench.
FULL TEAMS:
Cobden
B: Jia Anderson, Billy McGlade, Jack McGlade
HB: Tarj Anderson, Jack Hutt, Zac Green
C: Tomas Lindquist, Charlie Darcy, Jesse Williamson
HF: Ashley Rosolin, Christian Koroneos, Louis Cahill
F: thomas spokes, Chris Paatsch, Sam Giblett
R: Toby Hawkins, Paul Pekin, Lachlan Davis
Int: Ryleigh Mcvilly, Ned Dalziel, Mitch Reed
Emg: Nicholas Nieuwenhuizen, Ben Berry
In: Charlie Darcy, Ryleigh Mcvilly, thomas spokes
Out: Sam Uwland
Hamilton Kangaroos
B: Christopher Quinn, Taine Morris, Jack Hickey
HB: Jarrod O'Brien , Jandre Slabbert, Sean Barnes
C: Brady Hicks, Tyrone Ross, Luke Uebergang
HF: Hamish Waldron, Hugh Douglas, Sam Brewer
F: Harry Waters, Darcy Russell, Joshua Pepper
R: Levi Dare, Rory Gill, Dylan Starkie
Int: Joseph Franklin, Charles Murrie, Angus Noske
In: Jandre Slabbert
Out: Lachy Dawson
Camperdown
B: Angus Gordon, Brendan Richardson, Luke O'Neil
HB: Jason Robinson, jack williams, Billy Arnold
C: Charlie Brett, Riley Arnold, Matthew Field
HF: Bayley Thompson, Jacob Mahony, Lachlan Bone
F: Joshua Bone, Luke Mahony, Edward Lucas
R: William Rowbottom, Charlie Lucas, Pele Manivong
Int: Chris Dendle, Luke Tyler Ball, Timothy Fitzgerald
Emg: Sidney Bradshaw, James Byrne, Devon Coates
In: James Byrne
Out: Fraser Lucas, Mitchell Danahay
North Warrnambool Eagles
B: Xavier Mills, Reece Scoble, Joseph McKinnon
HB: Will Scriven, Darcy Keast , Thomas O'Leary
C: Jackson Grundy, Matthew Wines, Samuel McKinnon
HF: Luke Wines, Adam Wines, Sam James
F: Jarryd Lewis, Justin Wallace, Tom James
R: Jordan Dillon, Billie Smedts, Sam McLachlan
Int: Liam Stow, Zac Urquhart, Mitchell Bowman, Sam Slattery, Jye O'Brien
In: Zac Urquhart, Sam McLachlan, Mitchell Bowman
Out: Jackson Couch
Koroit
B: Tim Martin, Dallas Mooney, Alex Pulling
HB: Liam Hoy, Todd White, Frazer Robb
C: Jack Gleeson, Lachlan Rhook, Liam M O'Sullivan
HF: Timothy McPherson, Benjamin Dobson, Connor Hinkley
F: Rhys Raymond, Jarrod Korewha, Jayden Whitehead
R: Jeremy Hausler, Sam Dobson, Bradley Bell
Int: Daniel Roache, Thomas Mugavin, Seamus Brady
In: Seamus Brady, Thomas Mugavin, Bradley Bell
Out: Clem Nagorcka, Brett Harrington, Damian O'Connor
Warrnambool
B: Wil Fleming, William Jacobs, Samuel Wilson
HB: Martin Van Rooy, Alexander Shipard, Bradley Bull
C: Austin Steere, Damien McCorkell, Jordan Foott
HF: Jye Turland, Sam Cowling, Travis Graham
F: Jackson Bell, Darren Ewing, Luke Cody
R: Daniel Weymouth, Mitch Bidmade, Thomas Ludeman
Int: Tim Okeeffe, Kurt Lenehan, Beau Turland
In: Beau Turland
Out: Jed Turland
Portland
B: Rhys Egan, Damien Bell, Patrick Pekin
HB: Edmund Pritchard, Sam Hampshire, Zane Barker
C: Felix Jones, Daniel Falcone, Tanner Lovell
HF: Patrick Haylock, Ben Malcolm, Aaron Shepherd
F: Dylan Barr, Jake Wilson, Cooper Anson
R: Tylar Watts, Harris Jennings, Daniel Jackson
Int: Jai Langenberg, Thomas Sharp, David Denboer
Emg: Harry McIntyre
In: Jake Wilson, Zane Barker
Out: Thomas Haylock
South Warrnambool
B: Corey Gallichan, Noah Kol, Harrison Lee
HB: Sam Thompson, Tanna Blackney-Noter, Patrick Anderson
C: Hamish Gurry, Isaac Thomas, Jed Henderson
HF: Brayden Beks, Shannon Beks, Jesse Gallichan
F: Timothy Brown, Charlie Lee, Liam Youl
R: Samuel Kelly, Jock Blair, Brad Miller
Int: Charlie Bradshaw, Manny Sandow, Nick Thompson
Terang Mortlake
B: Tom McKenzie, Harrison Hobbs, Daniel Kenna
HB: Joel Crawley, Ryan O'Connor, Dylan Jones
C: Matthew Baxter, Joseph Arundell, Isaac Kenna
HF: Nicholas Couch, Lachlan Wareham, Tyson Densley
F: Jarryd Gardner, Stephen Staunton, Mitchell Carlin
R: Matthew Arundell, Gus Bourke, Jarryd Hay
Int: Macauley Carlin
To be selected from:
Christopher Baxter, Samuel Crawley
Port Fairy
B: James Imbi, John Anthony Bell, Colin Harwood
HB: Edward Purvis, Matthew Sully, Xavier McCartney
C: Kurt Smith, Kaine Mercovich, Dylan Herbertson
HF: Tyler Hetherington, Samuel McCartney, Tom Sullivan
F: Lachlan Glare, Jake Bartlett, Lochie Gunning
R: Adam McCosh, Isaac Martin, Daniel Nicholson
Int: Richard Bamblett, Jim Conlan, Matthew Pitt
In: Jim Conlan, Richard Bamblett, Lachlan Glare
Out: George Macdonald, Sandy Robinson, Blake Carroll
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