KOROIT coach Chris McLaren hopes fielding his strongest side of the season is an omen its injury run has come to an end and it can focus on putting its best foot forward.
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Tom Couch (unavailable), Connor Hinkley (Rebels), Todd White (Vic Country) and Tim McPherson (back) all return for Saturday's match against Terang Mortlake, much to the pleasure of McLaren.
"We have had our guys unavailable or out with injuries and we were getting close before interleague but post it we were pretty depleted," the two-time premiership coach said.
"This is probably the strongest team we have had on the park for the year and hopefully the injury run is starting to come to an end with boys getting back and some getting close to full fitness.
"It is nice having a tough time at selection and not trying to fill holes and trying to find players to play roles when we have the best available for a strong side this week."
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McLaren said Frazer Robb, Clem Nagorcka, Thomas Mugavin and Mac Petersen were all unlucky to lose their spots.
The Saints were without Sam Dobson until his return last week from a leg injury he sustained before the interleague bye.
They are also expected to have ruckman Rhys Raymond and defender Damian O'Connor to return from injury after the mid-season bye in three weeks' time.
In that time third-placed Koroit plays the Bloods, Hamilton Kangaroos and Camperdown before the week off on July 7.
McLaren said the availability of a majority of the squad would help strengthen the club's reserves side, which is also third on the ladder.
"The last few weeks we have been able to build some good form back," he said.
"We feel we are starting to head in right direction with our availability across the board and we're looking forward to the next little bit of the season."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
