Vic Metro and Vic Country are set to play in a trial game on Sunday at Kennedy Community Centre, Dingley, ahead of the Under-18s National Championships kicking off the following week.
It's a change to the lead-in to the carnival for the Victorian sides, which typically do not partake in trial matches following the finalisation of the squad.
It follows criticism last year of the Victorian sides not playing a lead-in game after both sides started the carnival slowly.
Both sides finished with a 2-2 record after losing their first game.
For comparison, Western Australia's squad played six trial matches against WAFL reserves sides, while South Australia play trial games against NSW/ACT and an SA Under-20s side.
The precedent of schoolboy footy would prevent most of the top prospects from taking part in such an elongated trial process, but the school competitions have a week off this week due to King's Birthday which will enable the best prospects to take part.
Vic Country played two trial matches in April to help determine selection of the squad, while Vic Metro played once.
Vic Country's carnival kicks off against the Allies on June 14 at Blacktown, while Vic Metro starts the following week against Western Australia at Joondalup.
AFL Academy members Arki Butler, Harry Van Hattum, Harry Chapman, Tate Hodgson and Lewis Houndsome are among the names in the Vic Metro squad, while Carlton father-son prospect Cody Walker and Geelong Falcons star Noah Williams headline the Vic Country squad.
