HAMILTON Kangaroos will be tested significantly when it faces the benchmark side of the competition in South Warrnambool today at Reid Oval for Round 14 of the Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) seniors.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at the Friendly Society Park, but the Roosters asked for the game to be moved to give their muddy home ground time to recover.

The Kangaroos are coming off a disappointing 60-point loss against Port Fairy last week and things won’t get any easier against the top side today.

The Roosters have an outstanding 11-2 season record suffering losses against Terang-Mortlake and Port Fairy while the Roos are 2-11.

Last time the sides met was back in round five at Melville Oval with South Warrnambool far too good and despite Zach Burgess and Darcy Russell kicking three majors each, the visitors won by 65 points.

Sam Kelly got hold of the Kangaroos inside the forward 50 as he kicked six goals for the day while Daniel Nicholson dominated around the ground.

The blue and white has nothing to lose and should throw caution to the wind as it tries to put the Roosters on the back foot and start the game well.

The youthful side will be up against some big bodies, but with heaps of talent on a good ground, it’ll be a good opportunity to showcase some impressive skills.

Hamilton has a couple changes to the side with Mick McMeel coming back into the team to help bolster the defensive unit, while Jason Hawker will come up from the reserves.

Hawker has played a few games since being back in town over the university break and has been dominating in the twos, having been named the best player almost every week, he will bring pace and silky skills to the senior side.

However, with the good comes the bad as the side will be without one of its best young players in Zach Burgess who is out with injury while James Pike is also an out.

South Warrnambool has brought in Ricky Henderson and Wil Rantall while Peter Doukas and Zavier Farley go out of the side.

Cam Pither is named on the wing and will hope to provide plenty of run and carry for the side getting the ball moving into the forward 50.

It will be up to the midfield to battle hard all day at Reid Oval to try and gain some metreage and give its forwards first use.

Darcy Russell has been in good form in recent times and will be eyeing off a few more goals today, while Hamish Cook and Luke Uebergang will work hard around him.

If the Kangaroos can bring it right up to the top side, it will propel them into next week’s game against Warrnambool with some confidence and momentum.

Look to Ethan Knight to continue his consistent form in the engine room and work well as a dynamic duo with Cam Whyte in the ruck.