IT'S a daunting proposition, but a challenge Kangaroo Flat coach Rob Bennett is imploring his players to embrace as the Roos prepare to take on BFNL pace-setter Strathfieldsaye at Dower Park on Saturday.
The 5-0 Storm are flying at the top of the ladder, while the Roos have made a scratchy 1-4 start to 2019.
"We've spoken about embracing the challenge of coming up against the best side in the league, and one that has been consistently the best over a number of years," Bennett said on Friday.
"We'll set some individual and team goals and aim to tick those goals off the best we can."
The Roos have four Bendigo Pioneer-listed players in their team in Ethan Roberts, Max Johnson, Kobe Brown and Jack Hickman, while Werribee-listed Ryley Barrack is also selected.
However, key forward recruit Matt Boland is an omission with an ankle injury.
Sam Heavyside, Kallen Geary and Harry Conway are three key Storm outs.
Meanwhile, teenagers Lachlan Zimmer and Cooper Smith will add to Sandhurst's growing list of deubtants in Saturday's game against Castlemaine.
Zimmer and Smith have been selected to play their first senior games - joining Pete Coghlan, Isaac Carracher and Charlie Robinson as first-gamers this season.
Zimmer is the younger brother of Dragons' midfielder Jed Zimmer, while Smith is the son of former Sandhurst defender Matt Smith.
The Magpies named Angus Monfries, despite the former Essendon and Port Adelaide forward struggling with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Jake O'Brien returns after a good performance in the inter-league game.
The Magpies host the Dragons at Camp Reserve from 2.15pm.
And, the last thing Maryborough needed ahead of its trip to Gisborne was the Bulldogs adding four class players to their line-up.
Coach Clinton Young, midfielder Ethan Minns, defender Tim Walsh and ruckman Josh Grabham all return for Gisborne.
The Magpies welcome back some class of their own in Stewart Crameri and coach Ben Lavars, but they've lost their number one midfielder Coby Perry.
SATURDAY'S SENIOR TEAMS:
GOLDEN SQUARE v. EAGLEHAWK
Golden Square
B: B. Welsh, W. Lee, B. Dorrington
HB: Z. Shelton, J. Coe, J. Thrum
C: T. Walters, J. Geary, C. Draper
HF: S. Brinsmead, J. Burke, J. Cooper
F: J. Rosengren, T. Baird, A. Marklew
R: M. Compston, A. Baird, L. Barrett
Int: H. Morcom, L. Humphrey, R. Hartley, D. Barrett
In: T. Baird, D. Barrett, J. Rosengren
Out: M. Evans, H. McCormick, H. Bynon
Eaglehawk
B: T. Miles, T. Hill, O. Madden
HB: S. Thompson, B. Conforti, J. Mullen
C: R. Saunders, B. Collins, J. Bateson
HF: R. McIvor, S. Knott, G. Hommelhoff
F: D. Williams, S. Williams, J. Collins
R: R. Tibbett, B. McPhee, R. Gillingham
Int: C. Holmes, B. Tanner, S. Harper, C. McGlashan
In: B. Tanner, T. Hill, B. Conforti, C. Holmes
Out: J. Pertzel, B. Thompson, B. Brown, D. Hanley
GISBORNE v. MARYBOROUGH
Gisborne
B: M. Edwards, T. Walsh, L. Rodgers
HB: J. Ferry, J. Lynch, T. Crosbie
C: R. Baker, C. Summerfield, C. Young
HF: E. Minns, J. Conolan, B. Bernacki
F: J. Scanlon, P. McKenna, J. Owen
R: J. Grabham, M. Goodyear, N. Doolan
Int: S. Walsh, S. Bell-Bartels, L. Spear, J. Baker
In: S. Bell-Bartels, E. Minns, C. Young, T. Walsh, J. Grabham
Out: C. Williamson, T. Wood, S. Comerford, A. Belcher, H. Simpson
Maryborough
B: B. Lavars, B. Malone, C. Rowe
HB: D. Vadala, M. McClure, C. O'Shea
C: C. Freeman, L. Bucknall, A. Humphrey
HF: J. Hooper, J. Postle, M. Bilton
F: J. Long, T. Roughead, J. Fraser
R: L. Crameri, L. Butler, S. Crameri
Int: B. O'Donnell, L. Latch, D. Lewis, Z. Polinelli
In: B. Lavars, S. Crameri, L. Crameri
Out: C. Perry, J. Templeton, J. Macer
CASTLEMAINE v. SANDHURST
Castlemaine
B: S. Simpson, S. Moss, R. Pedretti
HB: D. Stephens, D. Atkins, H. Lawrence
C: K. Jones, D. Easson, J. Chester
HF: W. Moran, N. Woodman, D. Slingo
F: A. Monfries, B. Blake, A. Robins
R: S. Nettleton, J. O'Brien, M. Filo
Inter: J. Wootton, T. Brasher, J. Byrne
In: J. Wootton, S. Nettleton, R. Pedretti
Out: M. Dance, C. Burnett, J. Matera
Sandhurst
B: M. Leyden, J. Wilkinson, J. Hann
HB: J. Pallpratt, L. Ireland, I. Ruff
C: J. Zimmer, A. Parry, A. Wharton
HF: V. Rodi, T. Strachan, N. Stagg
F: P. Coghlan, M. Thornton, J. Wharton
R: C. Down, B. Holmes, J. McLean
Int: J. Condon, L. Zimmer, C. Smith, I. Carracher
Emg: C. Robinson
In: T. Strachan, L. Zimmer, C. Smith, A. Parry
Out: W. Holt, T. Calvert, A. Collins
KYNETON v. SOUTH BENDIGO
Kyneton
B: B. Xiriha, H. Huntley, T. Kelly
HB: M. O'Sullivan, S. Rooth, R. Smith
C: M. Comben, R. Magin, L. Chisholm
HF: J. Conforti, P. McCarthy, S. Huy
F: C. Fisher, D. Harris, L. Beattie
R: J. Orr, H. Govan, J. Govan
Int: J. Plowman, T. Sims, S. Kupper, H. Moore
In: S. Huy, C. Fisher, S. Rooth, R. Smith
Out: J. Tatti, H. Ingleton, A. Livingstone, T. Kirk
South Bendigo
B: T. McLeod, J. Sheahan, C. Taggert
HB: C. Balnaves, R. Walsh, R. Harvey
C: B. Torpey, N. Horbury, K. Blow
HF: W. Keck, K. Antonowicz, B. Harvey
F: B. Childs, A. Gundry, M. Goodwin
R: C. Crisp, B. Haddow, T. Brereton
Int: J. Connolly-Gaunt, W. Allen, D. McCutcheon, W. Tobin
In: C. Balnaves, M. Goodwin, R. Walsh, A. Gundry
Out: Z. Hare, M. Gardner, D. Johnstone, J. Swatton
KANGAROO FLAT v. STRATHFIELDSAYE
Kangaroo Flat
B: R. Barrack, N. McHugh, R. Turner
HB: M. Holt, M. Despott, D. Klemm
C: D. Rees, H. Pyke, J. Hickman
HF: C. Greer, N. Lang, E. Roberts
F: L. Needs, M. Clifford, B. Fry
R: M. Johnson, J. Lanyon, L. Collins
Int: K. Brown, D. Wust, D. Dempster, K. Symons
In: J. Hickman, E. Roberts, R. Barrack, M. Johnson
Out: A. Cussen, L. Tranter, M. Boland, K. Clark
Strathfieldsaye
B: S. Murphy, J. Neylon, C. Brady
HB: S. Geary, B. Curnow, H. Lawrence
C: B. Henderson, T. Coates, L. Gill
HF: J. Martyn, H. Robertson, R. WIlson
F: F. Payne, L. Sharp, J. Formosa
R: L. Ratcliffe, K. Smith, C. Sheahan
Int: B. Lester, T. Petrie, H. Crone, L. Wallace
In: B. Lester, H. Crone, L. Wallace, R. Wilson
Out: S. Heavyside, P. Blandford, K. Geary, H. Conway
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