Crone and fellow young paceman Brody Couch are battling for the final spot in the Victorian team to play New South Wales in the four-day game at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Crone, who has played five one-day games for Victoria, was promoted to the Victorian squad of 12 as one of four changes to the squad that defeated the Blues last week.

Paceman Scott Boland and batsmen Marcus Harris and Nic Maddinson are away on Australian and Australian A squad duties, while spinner Jon Holland is recovering from concussion.

"It comes down to a bit of a race between Brody Couch and Xavier Crone for the last bowling spot to replace Scotty Boland,'' Rogers told SEN.

"Both of them have been doing some pretty good things in the pre-season and we're really looking forward to one of them taking the opportunity."

Read more: Crone's Sheffield Shield ambition

Should Crone edge out Couch for the bowling berth he'll become the 865th player to represent Victoria at first-class level.

Crone, who will celebrate his 24th birthday next month, has had limited preparation in terms of game time this summer.

The COVID-19 restrictions pushed the starting date of Premier Cricket back to last weekend and then Carlton's opening round match was washed out.

Should Crone make his debut, he'll join fellow former Bendigo District Cricket Association player James Seymour on state cricket's biggest stage.

Seymour made his maiden first-class century in Victoria's last-start win over New South Wales at the MCG.

"It's a great story,'' Rogers said of Seymour.

"He's just a quiet, unassuming guy who beats a little bit of a different drum to most people.

"He lives and breathes cricket and you can see the desperation he's got.

"The fact he's turned himself into such a fine player is all to credit him, he's worked so hard.

"They're the great stories when you see someone who has churned away at a goal for so many years, and then he finally gets the chance and makes it count."

Seymour compiled 105 in his first innings on the MCG.

This time around he'll have a new opening partner, with Travis Dean likely to replace Harris at the top of the order.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: