Messaoudi suffered cracked ribs in the dying minutes of the Bulldogs win over Kyneton on April 24 and is unlikely to play a club game before the inter-league encounter at the QEO later this month.

“He’s up against it, which is a shame,” Gisborne coach Ty Elliott said yesterday.

“It’s a four to six-week injury, which probably puts him out of contention.

“He’s desperate to play. Being last year’s captain he’s very keen to be a part of it again.”

While other high-profile players in the league have bypassed inter-league footy in recent years, Messaoudi has been the first to put his hand up to represent the league.

Last year he led an inexperienced squad to an upset win over arch-rival Ballarat and was expected to be in the centre again this year.

Another hero of last year’s inter-league campaign - Golden Square speedster Mark Lloyd - is also an unlikely starter this year.

The Bulldogs star is recovering from a hamstring strain and is unlikely to be risked by Square in its next two games against Kyneton and Eaglehawk.

Form teams Golden Square and Eaglehawk look likely to provide the majority of the BFL squad. Despite having injury concerns, the two teams could have up to 15 representatives between them in the final squad of 24.