THE Bendigo District Cricket Association will meet both of last year's grand finalists during the preliminary rounds of next month's annual Melbourne Country Week carnival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bendigo's schedule includes games against both Mornington-Peninsula and Sale-Maffra
Mornington-Peninsula defeated Sale-Maffra by seven wickets in last year's grand final.
Bendigo will also take on Murray Valley (6th last year) and Leongatha (7th last year) in its preliminary matches.
"I never put a lot of thought into whether we've got a good draw or not," Bendigo coach Max Taylor said on Wednesday.
"You never know how each team will shape up each year... they are all hard to beat.
"You've only got to look at Mornington. Two years ago they were fairly ordinary, but last year they restocked and won it."
Bendigo finished third last year after missing out on a berth in the grand final by just five runs.
Bendigo will be captained by Strathdale's Linton Jacobs.
• BDCA Melbourne Country Week fixture:
February 17: v Murray Valley at Greenvale.
Feburary 18: v Sale-Maffra at Carlton.
February 19: v Leongatha at Prahran.
February 20: v Mornington-Peninsula at Endeavour Hills.