Noah Answerth, Harry Cunningham and Brennan Cox. Pictures: AFL Photos

BRISBANE will be without important defender Noah Answerth in its preliminary final clash with Hawthorn, while Sydney has lost veteran Harry Cunningham to a calf injury for its prelim against Fremantle. 

The Lions, Hawks and Dockers will all take unchanged line-ups into their preliminary finals but Brisbane won't have Answerth (ankle) to help combat superstar Hawthorn goalsneak Nick Watson in Saturday's game at the MCG. 

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Sydney has made two forced changes to the team that thrashed the Lions by 57 points at the SCG a fortnight ago, both through injury. Cunningham suffered a calf strain at training this week, while captain Callum Mills will miss most of the next 12 months after rupturing his ACL against Brisbane. 

05:15

Key defender Lewis Melican replaces Mills in the backline, while winger Justin McInerney will play his first game since round 13 after recovering from a significant hamstring injury. 

Swans coach Dean Cox has opted not to bring in key forward Joel Amartey, who is building fitness after an Achilles injury sustained in round 16. 

The only selection query at Fremantle surrounded key defender Brennan Cox, who is on the road back from a calf injury, but he will play in the WAFL Grand Final for Peel Thunder instead. 

13:05

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Sydney v Fremantle at the SCG, 7.40pm AEST 

SYDNEY

In: J.McInerney, L.Melican
Out: C.Mills (knee), H.Cunningham (calf)

FREMANTLE

In: Nil
Out: Nil

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Hawthorn v Brisbane at the MCG, 5.15pm AEST  

HAWTHORN

In: Nil
Out: Nil

BRISBANE

In: Nil
Out: Nil