Albury's Austin Shephard has been added to the Murray Bushrangers line-up for this week as they prepare to take on the Sydney Swans Academy.
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Shepherd comes back into the side after a season ending injury during a pre-season match last year saw him sidelined.
This will be the first time the Bushrangers have come up against the Sydney side, who are new to the competition and currently sitting undefeated.
Bushrangers coach Mark Brown said Shepherd has put the work in to get back out on the field.
"We're looking forward to seeing how he equips himself at NAB league level," Brown said.
"We don't really know what to expect.
"From what we can gather, they're (Sydney Swans Academy) very well coached and very well drilled.
"They're a direct feed line into the Sydney Swans, so I think they have a very clear line from their academy into their senior side.
"We're really looking forward to the opportunity to go up against them."
Hudson Kaak will also play his first game of the season, while Ben Ashley Cooper is out injured and Elijah Hollands and Ethan Baxter will miss the game as they represent the Australian under-17 side against New Zealand.
After securing their first win of the season against the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, the Bushrangers will look to continue their from.
"Everyone smiles after the game and it just reinforces to them that they're on the right track," Brown said.
The Bushrangers travel to Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney for the round five clash on Saturday.
The team:
Backs: O'Dwyer, Quirk, Byrne.
Half Backs: Irvine, Kelly, Boyer.
Midfield: Durham, Martin, Parnell.
Half Forwards: Wilson, Barzen, Chandler.
Forwards: Hillary, Christie, Chalcraft.
Rucks: Sykes, Wild, Chalcraft.
Interchange: Davies, Shepherd, Clarke, Kaak.
Emergencies: Williamson, Holt, Crisp.
