JOSH Fraser, Shane Crawford, Cameron Ling, Justin Koschitzke and Matthew Pavlich head the list of inclusions for Thursday's teams with key players Scott Lucas, Max Hudghton, Warren Tredrea and Brad Miller lost to injury for round 18.
Fraser is back for Collingwood with the ruckman’s return one of four changes for the Pies as they prepare for Friday night's blockbuster with the Hawks.
Tyson Goldsack, Ryan Lonie and Alan Toovey are also back in the side, but Shane Wakelin (rested), Rhyce Shaw (back), Ben Johnson and Cameron Wood (both omitted) drop out.
Danny Stanley, Sam Iles and John McCarthy are the emergencies.
Hawthorn has been significantly boosted by the inclusion of veteran pair Shane Crawford and Stuart Dew who have recovered from respective knee and hamstring injuries.
Crawford, 33, will play his 299th game after shaking the tendonitis that has sidelined him since round 15, while Dew has overcome hamstring concerns that surfaced following the round 13 loss to North Melbourne.
Michael Osborne is out with a corked buttock and Travis Tuck joins Brent Renouf and Clinton Young as emergencies.
Essendon has lost key forward Scott Lucas for Saturday’s clash with Melbourne at the MCG.
Lucas has been struggling with back, knee and ankle complaints but the Bombers have listed the former as the reason for him missing this match.
However, midfielder Andrew Lovett comes straight back into the side after serving a two-week club suspension for missing a training session.
Melbourne’s chances of downing the in-form Bombers hit a snag with much-improved forward Brad Miller out with a hamstring injury.
Coach Dean Bailey has also sent a wake-up call to young midfielder Nathan Jones and Michael Newton, dropping both.
But there is some good news, with Brad Green, Paul Wheatley and Austin Wonaeamirri returning.
Adelaide has made just one change as it looks to build on last week’s win over the Swans, with utility Kris Massie replacing young forward Kurt Tippett.
Tippett has been named as an emergency along with Andy Otten and Jared Petrenko.
Carlton has made one unforced change with Dennis Armfield returning from a broken finger at the expense of Adam Hartlett.
Armfield, 21, had played four games in his debut season until his round 13 injury.
As expected, reigning premier Geelong has regained premiership duo Darren Milburn and Cameron Ling for Saturday night’s meeting with the Tigers at Telstra Dome.
However, last week’s gutsy win over Hawthorn did come at a cost with Paul Chapman sidelined with a hamstring injury.
David Johnson is the other omission, forced out through Milburn’s availability.
Richmond, goes into the clash with the Cats full of confidence and has made no change to the 22 that snatched victory from the Brisbane Lions.
Last-quarter specialist Joel Bowden has been named at centre-half back while Matthew Richardson is named in his now-customary role on the wing.
North Melbourne has made one change ahead of Saturday night’s clash with the Lions on the Gold Coast with Leigh Brown in for young ruckman Todd Goldstein.
The Roos will be aiming for four wins in a row on Saturday while the Brisbane Lions have made four unforced changes as they look to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Tigers.
Rhan Hooper, Colm Begley, Albert Proud and Scott Clouston have all earned recalls, while Tom Collier, Cheynee Stiller, Tim Notting and Robert Copeland have worn the wrath of coach Leigh Matthews.
Clouston, 21, is a 193cm key position prospect who comes off the rookie list for his debut.
The Western Bulldogs will be forced to make at least one change for Sunday’s clash with the Swans at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
With Dylan Addison out with a serious knee injury, Stephen Tiller has been named in the starting 18 and looks like he’ll get the nod.
Meanwhile Peter Street, Callan Ward and Cameron Wight have all been added to an extended interchange bench.
The Sydney Swans could blood two debutants against the Bulldogs after making at least three changes.
Exciting forward Patrick Veszpremi – the Swans’ first pick in last year’s draft – and West Australian Ryan Brabazon have been named on an extended interchange bench.
Leo Barry returns to bolster the Swans’ defence, while Nick Malceski, Luke Brennan and Jared Crouch could also come into the side.
Adam Goodes is the main casualty as he sits out at least one week with a groin injury while Henry Playfair (hamstring) and Matt O’Dwyer are also out.
Coach Paul Roos will coach game No. 150 for the club.
St Kilda welcomes back Justin Koschitzke after his one week ban for striking while Charlie Gardiner, Shane Birss, Michael Rix, Jarryn Geary and James Gwilt make up an expanded bench.
Michael Gardiner and David Armitage have been dropped and Max Hudghton will miss with a calf injury sustained in the loss to the Eagles last week.
Port Adelaide has lost Troy Chaplin (ankle), Warren Tredrea (shoulder) and Steven Salopek (achilles), with Mitchell Farmer, Nick Salter, Paul Stewart, Adam Thomson, Damon White and Ryan Williams included on a seven-man bench.
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich will play in Sunday’s Western Derby against West Coast after overcoming a jarred knee.
However, his side has suffered a blow with young ruckman Robert Warnock to miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury that requires surgery on Friday.
Andrew Browne, Roger Hayden and Kepler Bradley have been added to Fremantle’s interchange, to be trimmed on Friday evening.
And the West Coast Eagles will also welcome their skipper with Darren Glass overcoming a thigh strain and named at full-back.
Tim Houlihan and Ryan Davis come onto the bench.
