Related: Rare opportunity for Magpies

Strathfieldsaye will use Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Eaglehawk as a trial run for September.

Storm coach Troy Coates plans to use the game as a test to see which individuals and which team plans can work against a quality side like Eaglehawk. 

"This week gives us the opportunity to try a few things,'' Coates said.

"When you're playing a team like Eaglehawk some guys have to prove themselves.

"With Lachlan Sharp out we'll try a few things in our forward line and down the other end some of our guys will get the chance to test themselves against some of the best forwards in the competition."

The Storm took a different approach in its preparation this week.

On Tuesday night the club trained in the basketball stadium at Bendigo South East College.

"We'd been training pretty hard, so it can be good physically and mentally to change things up a bit,'' Coates said.

"We've had a couple of soft tissue injuries lately as well, so maybe we'd been going a bit hard on the track.

"We were lighter on the legs on Tuesday night then had a really good training run on Thursday night.

"The boys are pretty excited about this week. They're keen to play Eaglehawk on our home ground and, hopefully, get one back on them after they beat us in round one."

While Eaglehawk upstaged the reigning premier in round one at Canterbury Park, the Borough hasn't beaten Strathfieldsaye at Tannery Lane since 2011.

Eaglehawk coach Josh Bowe said his players welcomed the challenge of playing the Storm on their home turf.

"The reason we play footy is to play in big games and to take on the best,'' Bowe said.

"We're keen to see where we're at and the boys are really looking forward to it.

"Strathfieldsaye feels at home at their ground and they know the ground really well.

"They've been a very good side for a long time now. They're not easy to beat anywhere."

Bowe and young guns Jack Fallon and Jonty Neaves return to the Eaglehawk side for Saturday’s blockbuster.

The Storm welcome back Kal Geary, Kellan Smith, Shaun Dwyer and Essendon VFL-listed defender Jamieson Sheahan.

“Getting Jamieson back is a welcome surprise,’’ Coates said.

“He’s been playing good footy, but Essendon don’t have many injuries at the moment… so it looks like he’ll be playing with us this week.”