They weren't allowed to play when the league resumed last week due to the Victorian Government's travel restrictions, but they were lifted on Wednesday.

Rovers have been able to recall seven Melbourne players, including boom recruits Matt Jones and Tyson Hartwig, for Saturday's away match against Albury.

The Hawks are third, on percentage, with a six-two record, while Albury remains unbeaten after eight rounds.

"Everyone around the club, seniors and reserves, is really keen for this week, even after the first game we played them, we couldn't wait to play them again," Tigers' forward Riley Bice revealed.

"It will be just a really good game, a really hard contest."

Albury won the round one match by five points, with the home side kicking a goal after the siren to reduce the deficit.

However, as tight as the scores finished, it was a game the visitors never looked like losing after leading at every break.

But given the Hawks had a host of new players, while the Tigers have remained relatively stable for a number of years, there's every chance Rovers will be a vastly improved outfit.

And that was highlighted just a fortnight after the game when the Hawks pipped premiership fancies Wangaratta by 14 points.

The prospect of Rovers' rock in defence - Tyson Hartwig - against Albury's leading goalkicker Jacob Conlan will be vital, while the likes of former Melbourne player Jones against Albury's fellow former AFL players Anthony Miles and Daniel Cross in the midfield is also exciting.

And the league is still waiting for ex-Melbourne and Carlton forward Jeff Garlett to tear a game apart for the Tigers.

Former Murray Bushranger Bice certainly doesn't carry that profile, but he's improving and while he's still looking to add some weight, he's stronger than the teenager who debuted well short of 70kgs in 2018.

"I haven't really done anything to put on any weight, it's just been natural growth," he suggested.

"It's definitely helped, I don't get knocked around as much."

Albury has won seven of the past 11 grand finals and one of the reasons is they thrive on the challenge of an opponent gunning for them.

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And Rovers showed against Wangaratta why they're the new kid in town.

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