It's the first hit-out for both teams and given the pair only has two matches apiece, it will prove crucial ahead of their opening games in a month.

"Two's the right amount for our Melbourne boys. With work, busy workloads I just feel three can be a bit too much and am mindful of asking too much of our boys so early," coach Jake Sharp said.

The Saints will have 10 travellers from throughout the senior list and while that's a strong effort to have that few for the league's smallest town, it's still a fair slice of the squad given they used 31 players in seniors last year.

One of the Melbourne-based players in former AFL player Taylor Hunt won't face the Panthers, while veteran Brad Murray and Paul Harrington are others to miss.

Boom recruit Dawson Simpson (GWS) will play his first game for the Saints, while Sharp is looking to purely coach for the first half.

"We're just after chemistry amongst our playing group," Sharp said.

"We want to develop an understanding and continued understanding of the concepts that we want to implement throughout the season.

"We had the same format with our practice matches last year with a week on, week off, week on and week off before the first game."

It's part of a bumper long weekend for the club, with GWS star Jeremy Cameron taking Myrtleford's juniors for a coaching session from 9am on Monday.

Cameron is close with former team-mate Simpson and delivered a wonderful tribute to the big man at the presentation night.

Meanwhile in Saturday's other practice games, Wodonga Raiders face Shepparton United at Wodonga Senior Secondary College, Yarrawonga hosts Therry Penola, Albury meets Wagga Tigers at Mangoplah, while Wangaratta Rovers have an intraclub at Cathedral College, Wangaratta.

Elsewhere, Lavington has a new president in former player Mark Sanson.

The former Albury Wodonga Junior Football League chairman has replaced the popular and hard-working Peter Barwick, who filled the role for a decade.

"I have the utmost respect for Pete Barwick and his contribution to the club," the 1998 best and fairest offered.

"From running the boundary to the canteen, there's nothing that Pete hasn't done, he's been amazing and they're big shoes to fill."

Lavington snapped a 14-year premiership drought with an upset of Wangaratta last year.

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"The club's in a good position and we're having a magnificent facility being built," he said.

"We've just got to get ourselves into a position, from an off-field perspective, to make the most of the opportunity the facility will present because the end product is going to be superb for the region."

Lavington just received good news that its opening round clash against Wodonga on April 4 won't be moved.