Tom Bellchambers and Patrick Ambrose will lead a number of players pushing for senior selection in Sunday afternoon’s VFL clash against Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval.

Bellchambers has played two weeks at VFL level since returning from major ankle surgery in the pre-season.

“Tom has progressed game time in the last few weeks and we will progress him to unrestricted game time this week,” Coach Hayden Skipworth said.

“It is about getting more confidence in his jumping, his marking and his timing out their on the field.”

“He will be pretty close to pushing for senior selection soon I would imagine.”

Skipworth believes Ambrose is also just one strong performance away from pushing his claims for a senior recall after returning from a quad injury last week.

“It was Patty’s first game back from a quad last week and he was a little bit scratchy and just needed the run,” he said.

“He is going to play another week with us and is in a similar boat to Tommy in that if he performs well to get his confidence back then he would be considered strongly for selection.”

Elliott Kavanagh will play his first game for a month as he returns from a minor hamstring strain.

Kyle Hardingham is also a strong inclusion for the VFL team among 16 AFL listed players set to line up in the match.

Skipworth is expecting a fierce contest against the Zebras who are undefeated this season.

“We are expecting them to give us a good run in a tough and physical contest right from the first bounce.”

“They have not lost a game, they have had a draw, but they are playing really good football like St Kilda are at the moment,” he said.

“It is there first home game of the year so there is no doubt they will be out to impress their supporters.”

Defender Tayte Pears has been swung to the opposite end of the ground in recent weeks trying his hand as a key forward.

Skipworth said it was an experiment that team was likely to persist with.

“Tayte played all his juniors as a forward, played in the state carnival as a back and ever since he got to the club he has played as a defender,” Skipworth said.

“We are just going to have a look at him up there for a few weeks and hopefully he can add another string to his bow which gives him another avenue to the team as well.”

“This week he will be close to full game time and he looks good when he hits up marking the ball and creating a good contest.”

Nick O’Brien, Kurt Aylett and Leroy Jetta are all continuing to push their claims for senior selection after strong performances in recent weeks.