After a long pre-season, the Bendigo Bombers will play in their first competitive match of the pre-season when they take on the Northern Bullants on Saturday morning at Optus Oval.

Last year's best and fairest winner Jordan Doering will be missing from Saturday’s side, as will Nick Carter and Simon Rosa who will not be risked at this early stage of the season.

""We have a list of about 30 guys who will be participating this weekend and only about four or five of them will come from Essendon. The rest will be made up of Bendigo listed players,"" Bendigo Bombers football manager David Calthorpe explained.

While Bendigo is looking to get its season off on the right foot, victory on Saturday isn’t the sole focus for the coaching staff.

""We are looking to see where we are at in terms of our match play. We have a lot of players that we haven’t yet seen in game situations. We know what a lot of guys can do, but we are looking see of our first year players who is going to put their hand up to play Round 1.

""Winning or losing doesn’t really come into the equation it is more about giving the guys an opportunity because there aren’t many chances to play before the start of the season.""

Early signs of pre-season training have been positive and having come off an improved 2005 that saw the Bombers play finals football, things are looking bright heading into 2006.

""We did a time trial around Princes Park and we had about six or seven guys who ran it in sub-eleven minutes, which is quite a handy time considering that Essendon had only two or three guys who did that,"" Calthorpe explained.

""I think that as a VFL club, especially being based in Bendigo, it is a fairly professional environment where they train as elite players. The guys train five nights a week, which is a credit to them as they have full time jobs also to juggle.""

Bendigo’s practice match on Saturday morning against the Northern Bullants will kick off at 9am at Optus Oval.

To see Bendigo's practice match and full season fixture click here.