Host of changes for Mt Barker in Belt-Up challenge with young Kangas side as part of round four of the Great Southern Football League

Mt Barker coach Brad Hook says his team are excited about the challenge of facing a new-look North Albany team, with both sides coming off a loss as they enter round four of the Great Southern Football League this weekend.

Round four is the Belt-Up Round, which promotes the use of seatbelts and the road safety message. The Bulls will travel to Collingwood Park on Sunday in search of their second win.

They will have a host of changes, with experienced midfielder Luke Hammond and defenders Lee Pavlovich, Cam Quenby, Devin Cooper and Simon Kittow all set to return, while Russell Wynne is out of the team that lost to Railways last week.

Hook said the competition looked very close this season.

“It looks like being a really interesting clash — they have a new coach and new game plan so we are looking forward to it,” he said.

“It will be a different side to what we are used to in years gone by.

“Every game this year is important so we need to be switched on and get ourselves in a good position going into the second half of the year. North are good on the outside and they spread so we need to think about that and try to control that.”

Players will wear red armbands to mark Belt-Up Round and there will be 30 seconds of silence before each league game as a mark of respect for people killed or injured on country roads.

Special Belt-Up footballs will also be used in the three league games and presented to the best player on the ground, adjudged by the umpires. Reigning premiers Royals and the much-hyped Denmark-Walpole will clash on Saturday at McLean Park.

The Lions have won their first three games, while the Magpies have won two of their three so both sides will go in with plenty of confidence.

The Tigers will be looking for their second straight win when they face Albany at Centennial Stadium on Sunday afternoon.