Caldwell, an AFL Academy squad member, has had a delayed start to the football season because of school cricket commitments with Geelong Grammar.

The classy centreman returns for the game in Shepparton to play alongside a Pioneers group buoyed by last week's stunning come-from-behind win over the Greater Western Victoria Rebels.

"Jye's very valuable to the group because he's played a lot of high-level footy (in the past couple of years),'' Pioneers coach Rick Coburn said.

"He's bound to be a bit rusty because it's his first game of the season, but we're very happy to have him in the side.

"He can win a lot of the footy in the midfield and can go forward as well."

Promising key position player James Schischka has also been added to the Pioneers squad.

Schischka represented Victoria Country at under-16 level last year and made his TAC Cup debut late in the season.

"We think James is better suited as a key forward, but he certainly has the talent to play as a key defender as well,'' Coburn said.

The final team will be announced on Thursday, with Coburn finding it hard to make changes to a winning squad.

"Jye (Caldwell) will certainly play and James (Schischka) is in contention as well, but apart from that we'll go with the same squad as last week,'' he said.

Coburn said the one-point win over the Rebels had put some pep into the step of his playing group.

"It was an exciting win and the boys celebrated accordingly,'' Coburn said.

"Once training came around on Tuesday it was back to business. The boys know that they didn't play good footy for much of that game and they're keen to build towards a four-quarter performance."

The Bushrangers defeated the Pioneers soundly in a pre-season practice game.

"Murray have a very good talent pool and we're really excited to take up the challenge,'' Coburn said. 

Friday's game at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton starts at 11.30am.