The 40-point victory over Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League was the last time the league won a representative match.

It was played at Backhaus Oval, which is no longer used in the LVFNL.

In the following four years the LVFNL suffered 73, 30, 52 and 39-point defeats before it was decided the league would withdraw from inter-league action.

The two-year hiatus is over and this year's LVFNL team has the opportunity to put the league back on the map, starting with Saturday's clash with Golden Rivers at the home of central Victorian footy the QEO.

Coach Anthony Dennis didn't want players with half-hearted inter-league attitudes to pull on the LVFNL jumper.

"We could have picked a few players based on their name, but instead we wanted to go with players that are in form and have match fitness and they want to play,'' Dennis said.

"Across the ground we have players that have been in good form with the clubs."

Two of those players are ruckmen Chris Down and Lachlan Sidebottom.

Dennis is hoping Calivil United's Down and Inglewood's Sidebottom can set the foundation for an LVFNL victory.

"Down has been really good for Calivil for a couple of years,'' Dennis said.

"Lachlan Sidebottom has come to the league with big wraps on him, so to have two first-class ruckmen at our disposal is going to be good for our midfielders."

Loddon Valley's much-anticipated return to inter-league footy on Saturday won't be marked by fancy game plans

"It doesn't matter which ground you play on you have to get your hands on the footy first,'' Dennis said.

"We hope we get our hands on the footy first and dictate the play from there. We've got a quick game style that we want to play, but in patches we'll slow it down and get them to chase us."

Dennis works in Gunbower and has some contacts in the Golden Rivers league.

He's expecting the visitors to play an attacking style of footy.

"I've got a bit of background information,'' Dennis said.

"I know nearly half of their squad. There's been some big scores kicked up there, so I'd think they'll have a strong midfield and forward set-up.

"If we can counteract their midfield then we'll have a good chance of winning the game." 

Golden Rivers is coached by former Bendigo Diggers and Golden Square defender Simon Morton.

Saturday’s game starts at 1.30pm.

Loddon Valley – B: Jarryd Wiegard (Mit), Matt Magee (CU), Andrew Gladman (BLS). Hb: Kyle Chant (Br), Alex Davis (CU), Nathan Bacon (New).  C: Steve Gunther (PH), Liam Jacques (Br), Nick Waterson (MGYCW). Hf: Nick Arthur (BLS), Justin Laird (BLS), Sam Brinsmeade (CU). F: Vin Roddi (CU), James Rippingale (BLS), Terry Reeves (Mit). Foll: Chris Down (CU), Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Ma), Harry Gadsden (BLS) . Inter: Lachlan Sidebottom (I), Bailey Evans (I),  Joseph Mayes (Br), Luke Gray (MGYCW).

Golden Rivers –  From: Hayden Polglase, Michael Morson, Andrew Oberforfer, Kallen Helsop, Matt Heslop, Gregor Knight, Callan Farrell, Cooper Condely, Jason Iannucci, Justin Robinson, Dylan Morison, Max Baldissera, Thomas Isma, Justin McConnell, Nathan O'Toole, Dillan Treacy, Jay McDonald, Tim Robinson, Ben Booth, Daniel Watts, Josh Flight.

The curtain-raiser will be the Loddon Valley under-18s playing against the Heathcote District Football Netball League under-17s from 11.15am.