Highlanders senior coach Clive Raak has released a squad of 36 players that will be whittled down over the coming weeks to a final team for the May 21 encounter at Bungaree.

Among the group is a number of the competition’s stars, including Hepburn duo Andy McKay and Lee Cox, who have signalled their intent to play for the first time.

Raak has spoken with the players on the list and said all had committed to being picked for the side, providing they are fit.

Four senior coaches – Michael Searl (Springbank), Jarrod Morgan (Buninyong), Brenton Powell (Learmonth) and Justin McConnell (Ballan) – are also part of the squad, with the Tigers, Gordon and Bungaree the best represented of the clubs with five players each.

Searl, Morgan and the Demons’ Chris O’Keefe have been appointed as Raak’s on-field assistants.

Raak said he was pleased with the group of players at his disposal and appreciated the support of the league’s coaches, who he thanked for backing the program.

“These guys are 100 per cent committed to having a go at it, baring injuries,” Raak said.

“It’s good and it’s credit to the previous coaches for making interleague enjoyable.”

Raak said it was “definitely not a closed squad” and admitted he was happy to add players to the group in the coming weeks.

“It’s a bit of headache now watching games and selecting that final group,” Raak said.

The Highlanders are chasing a fifth-straight interleague success since resuming senior representative football in 2012 and will take on a Geelong and District outfit that suffered a 32-point defeat at the hands of North Central last year.

Central Highlands players will have their first training run at Dunnstown on Monday, May 9.

CHFL SQUAD

Michael Searl (Spring), Tim Malone (Spring), Luke Gunnell (Gor), Segifili Asa Leausa (Hep), Daniel Wehrung (New), Brenton Powell (Lear), Andy McKay (Hep), Jarrod Morgan (Bunin), Sam Turner (Bunin), Tom Nijam (Wau), Lee Cox (Hep), Shaun Finlayson (Bung), Chris McGuigan (Gor), Mick Nolan (Gor), Will Young (New), Ricky Ferraro (Hep), Chris O'Keefe (Bung), David Benson (Bung), Mark Gunnell (Gor), Christian Elliott (Bung), Marty Dufty (Bung), Joel Antonio (Cres), Sam Jenkins (Dunns), Peter McGettigan (Dunns), Justin McConnell (Ball), Jack Duke (Beau), Luke Philp (Roke-Corin), Caius Barrenger (Roke-Corin), Sebastian Walsh (Dayles), Alex Bomitali (Bunin), Rylan Rattley (Smythes), Billy Driscoll (Spring), Michael Cummings (Dayles), Justin Simpson (Spring), Joel Maher (Spring), Tye Murphy (Gor)