Horsham will have two men's representative cricket sides start their season on Sunday

The senior side is playing Wimmera-Mallee at Brim, while the over 40s play Hamilton at City Oval.

As has been the case with sport the last couple of weekends, any play will be dependent on the weather gods' ability to look kindly upon the region. Showers are predicted in both towns on Sunday.

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The over 40s matches are a new concept for the Western Waves region and have "been quite popular down through Hamilton" Horsham Cricket Association senior vice president Travis Hair said.

"This is the first year that they've actually done it," Hair said.

"We've picked a team based on a few guys that are playing and a few guys that might have only given it away in the last 12 months or thereabouts."

According to Hair "rep cricket (in the area) has really dropped off over the last five to ten years".

"There hasn't been a lot of it played," he said.

"I think the Western Waves is very keen to get a little more of that happening.

"Speaking on behalf of the HCA we're very keen to give our players more opportunity to play in good games like this against some of the better cricketers around."

Persuading players to put their hands up for rep cricket duties is a challenge that all country towns know too well. Playing cricket on both a Saturday and a Sunday doesn't leave time for much else over a weekend.

In a good sign for cricket in the region, interest was high for both teams.

"Everybody that's involved (in the senior side) was really quite keen to play," he said.

" A lot of these guys really want to test themselves against other cricketers around the area.

"It's quite a good team in the seniors."

You might think that because of their age the over 40s might be less inclined to put their names forward for rep cricket duties, however, Hair confirmed that this was not the case.

"The over 40s guys I probably found that they were actually more interested in putting their hands up," he said.

" A lot of the guys in the over 40s have probably played a Melbourne Country Week over the last 20 years together and there hasn't been much of that happening in the last five to ten.

"A few of the older blokes were keen to get out there and have a hit which was really good."

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The senior side will be led by Noradjuha-Toolondo's Matt Combe and features quality A Graders including star bowler Tony Caccaviello (also from Noradjuha-Toolondo), West Wimmera's Nathan and Brad Alexander, and Rup/Minyip's Daniel Schaper.

Dave Puls will take charge of the over 40s side which also features a host of big-name players.

"I think our Senior team does look really solid, they've got some good depth through them," Hair said.

"Over 40s I think there's probably about three or four guys that are still playing regularly.

"There are some really good names amongst the 40s team.

"If you went back 20 years ago it would be an absolutely stellar team. But age does catch up with us all a bit."

Horsham senior men's side: Matt Combe, Nathan Alexander, Brad Alexander, Mitch Dahlenburg, Austin Smith, Tony Caccaviello, Daniel Schaper, Adam Atwood, Brett Jensz, Angus Adams, Chim Camage.

Horsham over 40s side: Dave Puls, Marty Knight, Ash Hopper, Chris Hopper, Rowan Scott, Jack Tyler , Clint Midgley, Adam Carter, Trav Hair and two more to be named.