By Robert Windmill

MELBOURNE, July 1 AAP - Brad Rawiller is the new rider for the John Wheeler-trained Sand Sweeper in Saturday's Winter Championship Final at Flemington.

Rawiller replaces Michael Rodd who is committed to the Heath Conners-trained Davcon in the 200,000 Listed feature over 1600m.

Sand Sweeper emerged as one of the leading chances in the final when he scored a shock Flemington heat win over 1410 metres when resuming last week.

Stable foreman Brett Scott said the only query on Sand Sweeper was his ability to handle a seven-day back-up after a tough first-up run.

"The distance obviously doesn't worry us but the back-up is a bit of a worry," Scott said.

He said Sand Sweeper, who has demonstrated great versatility by also winning over the jumps, had been given an easy week to keep him fresh for Saturday.

"He pulled up well but we hasn't been on the track at all this week," Scott said.

"We have just taken him to the beach and he is as well as he can be."

Meanwhile, Mornington trainer Peter Healey remains hopeful that Justsay Sumthink will sneak in to the Winter Championship Final.

With a rating of 93 she is borderline to make the field which is restricted to 16 runners and four emergencies.

Justsay Sumthink hasn't been in better form, winning three races in a row at Sandown when ridden by Rodd before a luckless 11th to Sand Sweeper last week when apprentice Brenton Avdulla took the reins.

"We will accept without a rider but more than likely it will be Avdulla again if she gets a run," Healey said.

"A lot of people criticised the ride last week but he did nothing wrong."

Justsay Sumthink is a superior horse on a wet track and struck a good surface at Flemington.

With rain forecast for the week Justsay Sumthink should get conditions to suit on Saturday.

AAP TURF rw/gm