COLAC Tigers could be without enterprising young ruckman Matt Garner for their blockbuster clash against South Barwon.

Garner, one of the most promising prospects at Tigerland, broke his nose playing school football for Trinity College this week.

Tigers coach Matt Gibson yesterday rated the teenager a 50-50 chance to take on South Barwon at Central Reserve tomorrow, saying Garner was “not definitely ruled out yet”.

Should Garner miss the match, the Tigers face a stern test to counter the physical Swans without their second-choice tall.

Shane Theodore, who has taken on a key defensive role this season, looms as the obvious choice to back up Lochie Veale should Garner not play.

But Gibson also threw Dan Casey, Jake Carmody and Russell Whiteford into the ruck mix and hinted at a senior promotion for Rhys Karacsay.

Gibson said the Swans match gave Colac an opportunity to prove it could compete against the top Geelong Football League sides.

“I suppose they’ve been the benchmark side for a number of years now, it’s a game you look forward to,” he said.

“We’ve got to make sure we come with the right attitude and right approach to the game as a team and see how we go from there.

“Bell Park and South Barwon are the two sides you have respect for and you try to emulate to a certain degree, y ou want to be able to compete against these guys.

“That’s as simple as it gets for us.”

David Dunne is a definite inclusion for the Tigers, while Luke Theodore and Pat Seal are also available after missing the North Shore win last weekend.

Jay Baulch will miss with work commitments.

Gibson said Colac was unlikely to try to shut down any one Swan, emphasising the need for a

whole-of-team approach to the contest.

“At this stage we’re not going to go after one player. You can try and do that and all of a sudden another one bobs up,” he said.

“The focus is to make sure everyone is doing their role.”