Trainer Richard Jolly is confident stakes winner Hioctdane is peaking at the right time for his bid to repel a Victorian challenge in Saturday's Group One South Australian Derby.

Hioctdane is one of only two local runners who will line up against 13 Victorian-trained three-year-olds in the 2500m classic at Morphettville, and Jolly believes his charge is up to the task of securing a hometown win despite his less-than-ideal outside barrier draw.

"I think he's good enough. I'm certainly not concerned about the opposition," Jolly said.

"He'll just need a bit of luck from where he's drawn.

"It's a Group One and they are hard to win, but there doesn't look a super standout in there."

A field of 15 was declared on Tuesday and jockey Paul Gatt is the one with the task of trying to steer Hioctdane to victory from his wide gate.

Hioctdane stamped his Derby credentials with a 4-1/4-length win in last Saturday's Group Three Veolia Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville.

"I think he's peaking at the right time and is one on the way up," the trainer said.

His Derby opponents include Hvasstan and Gerontius who come out of the Australian Derby in Sydney where they finished sixth and fourth respectively to It's A Dundeel.

The Morphettville-based Jolly has aimed Hioctdane at the Derby since he scored a Listed win in Adelaide last October, and the trainer took confidence out of last Saturday's victory.

Hvasstan, with Glen Boss to ride on Saturday, is having his third crack at a Derby victory having finished fourth in the Victoria Derby in the spring and sixth at Randwick last start.