The stepping stone to the top four is beating arch-rivals Ballarat at Ballarat’s Eastern Oval on Saturday.

This is the sixth year in a row Bendigo has floated between the 5 v 6 and 7 v 8 match-up in the annual Country Championships.

Losses to Ballarat in 2013 and Geelong in 2011 have denied Bendigo the next step of pushing into the top four, but Saturday presents the Blue and Gold with another opportunity that Ladson said his players were determined to grasp.

“It’s a massive incentive to get into that top four and I know all the guys are very keen to do so,” Ladson said on Friday.

“The guys all want to be involved in a league that is renowned as one of the best in country Victoria... if that’s not an incentive, then I don’t know what is.”

Bendigo’s squad of 23 features eight players who will be pulling on the Blue and Gold for the first time, among them two of the defenders in Dale Young and Brayden Dorrington.

Ladson is confident his starting back six that also features Clayton Anderson, Tim Walsh, Jon Coe and Tyler Miles will not only defend staunchly, but provide a strong springboard for attack.

 “I feel that all the guys going through that back six can, firstly, defend really well and they are then quite good on the attack as well,” Ladson said.

“I have full confidence in all those guys to rebound well and help set us up.”

Bendigo will also look to the likes of younster Harry Conway, Tom Dowd, Jake Hall and James Saville to provide drive off both half-back and through the wing.

In attack Matt Thornton and Sam Mildren will provide key targets and be surrounded by two of country football’s most exciting small forwards in Mitch Dole and Brodie Filo.

“I’d hate to be lining up on Mitch Dole or Brodie Filo close to goal on a big stage,” Ladson said

Lachlan Ross will also offer a marking option across half-forward, and his performance in last year’s grand final for Sandhurst when he was the Dragons’ best player shows he won’t be daunted by the big stage.

Inter-league regular Tom Waters and Nick Lang on debut will share the ruck duties for Bendigo, with Thornton another option if required.

Ladson will rotate heavily through the midfield, starting with captain Jack Geary, vice-captain Lee Coghlan and Adam Parry, who are all named to start in the centre square alongside Waters.

“There’s the ability to have possibly 15 or 16 players who could go through the midfield... there will be plenty of options if Plan A isn’t working,” Ladson said.

“We believe that if we can win the ball, get it out on the inside and use our run, that’s going to be one of the keys to us winning the game.

“The boys are all aware of what’s on the line in terms of winning, but also what’s the reverse of it if we lose and going back down the rankings.”

The Ballarat team won’t be finalised until Saturday morning as it waits on the availability of North Ballarat-listed VFL players.

Jonathan Lanyon, Lucas Anderson, Liam Youl and Jarod Bacon have been named both Roosters’ emergencies and in Ballarat’s inter-league squad.

Lanyon and Anderson are both former Bendigo Pioneers, Bacon played with the Bendigo Gold last year, while Shane Page, who has been named half-forward for Ballarat, is a previous Bendigo inter-league player while he was at Kyneton.

Saturday’s game starts at 2.15pm.

The under-18 clash will be played from 11.30am, while on the netball court, the under-17 match is at noon and open game at 1.30pm.

BENDIGO V BALLARAT

EASTERN OVAL, BALLARAT, 2.15pm SATURDAY

BENDIGO

B: Clayton Anderson, Dale Young, Tim Walsh

Hb: Brayden Dorrington, Jon Coe, Tyler Miles

C: Harry Conway, Jack Geary (c), Jake Hall

Hf: Justin Dorward, Matt Thornton, Lachlan Ross

F: Brodie Filo, Sam Mildren, Mitch Dole

Foll: Tom Waters, Adam Parry Lee, Coghlan (v.c)

Interchange: James Saville, Corey Greer, Nick Stagg, Nick Lang, Tom Dowd.

Emergencies: Ben McPhee, Cameron Rinaldi, Harry O’Meara.

BALLARAT

B: Jonothan Lanyon, Lucas Anderson, Callum Currie

Hb: Jarrod Edwards, Ryan Hobbs, Brad Murphy

C: Adam Sewell, Cameron Richardson, Michael Powell

Hf: Shane Page, Rowan Marshall, Nathan Horbury

F: Matthew Notman, Jarrod Bacon, Grant Bell

Foll: Jackson Bowen, Daniel Kennedy, Chris Giampaolo

Interchange: (from) Sam Hooper, Liam Youl, Darren Leonard, Derick Micallef, Daniel Kennedy, Mitchell Phelps, Mitchell Gilbert, Jackson Bolton, Simon McCartin, Daniel Tung