Paralympian Evan O'Hanlon will also line up for the prestigious footrace.

It is a first for the event.

O'Hanlon said it was an honour to be selected in the backmarkers’ invitation race.

"Next year I hope to compete in the 100-metre able-bodied national championships, so this is great preparation to be running against some of the fastest athletes in Australia," he said.

Breen also ran in both the State of Victoria Women’s Gift and the Australia Post Stawell Gift heats but missed qualification.

She said she was thrilled to have another opportunity to race at Stawell.

"After not making it through to the semi-finals in the gift, this gives me another opportunity to take on the men,'' she said.

"I was only 0.02 seconds off making the semis so if I can get a better handicap hopefully I will be more competitive.

"It also gives me the chance to run on Easter Monday, which is what every athlete wants to do at Stawell.''

The remaining six runners will be decided on Monday after the Australia Post Stawell Gift semi-finals.