COLLINGWOOD has resisted the urge to recall Alan Didak for Saturday's blockbuster clash against Carlton, but Dale Thomas dispelled doubts over his fitness and will take his place in the team.

Didak hasn't played since suffering a calf strain against the Sydney Swans in round 14 and the Pies elected to give him another week to recover.

Thomas sent a scare through the Collingwood camp last week after he copped a knock to a knee and was subbed out of the 117-point win against North Melbourne in the third quarter, but has been cleared to play.

The only change to that team is the inclusion of veteran Ben Johnson for his seventh game of the year at the expense of Simon Buckley, who was omitted.

Carlton suffered a blow with Jordan Russell (soreness) unable to take his place in the team, which compounds the loss of Jarrad Waite to a hip injury. Ryan Houlihan was dropped for the big game with Matthew Watson and Matthew Watson earning recalls and Wayde Twomey to make his debut.  

Adelaide has made two injury-enforced changes ahead of Friday night's clash against the Bombers at AAMI Stadium.

Richard Douglas (ankle) and Ian Callinan (hamstring) drop out of the team that defeated the Swans and have been replaced by Ricky Henderson and Brodie Smith.

Essendon has brought in Henry Slattery to replace Michael Hibberd (general soreness).

Richmond has dropped Tom Hislop and Jayden Post for its home match against Gold Coast in Cairns with Matthew White and Andrew Browne earning recalls.

Gary Ablett suffered a similar knee scare to Thomas last weekend, but has been named for the Suns who have made four changes.

Charlie Dixon, Rex Liddy, Josh Toy and Matt Shaw return while Luke Russell, Brandon Matera and Daniel Gorringe have been dropped with Karmichael Hunt rested.

St Kilda has gone with the same 22 that thumped the Power last weekend for its home game against the Eagles at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

West Coast has lost Daniel Kerr to soreness and omitted Tom Swift and Patrick McGinnity and recalled Quinten Lynch, Beau Waters and Andrew Gaff.

Melbourne had hoped to take local product Aaron Davey to Darwin for Saturday night's clash with Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium but he has failed to come up from the knee injury he sustained in round 10.

Luke Tapscott returns from a hamstring injury for his first senior game since round nine, while Addam Maric comes in for his seventh AFL appearance of the season and first since round 10.

Jamie Bennell and Sam Blease - who debuted two weeks ago - have been omitted.

Port Adelaide has named Michael Pettigrew and Steven Salopek, and omitted Matthew Broadbent and Daniel Stewart.

Captain Dom Cassisi is yet to fly to Darwin and has remained in Adelaide with his pregnant wife, who is overdue.

He is expected to travel north on Saturday morning with forward Jay Schulz, who is attending a funeral on Friday.

The Sydney Swans are yet to make an omission but have named Jesse White, Craig Bird and Andrejs Everitt to face Fremantle on Sunday at the SCG.

Fremantle has omitted Josh Mellington but named Kepler Bradley, Clancee Pearce, Michael Barlow and Adam McPhee.

Barlow is a chance to play after a three-week break (that followed his return to the AFL from a badly broken leg) while McPhee comes straight in after being sidelined with a knee injury for two months.

McPhee has been named to start in the forward pocket with the other three on the extended bench.

The Brisbane Lions' Mitch Clark will return from the ankle injury he sustained in round 13 when his team meets Geelong at the Gabba on Sunday.

Brent Staker has been named on the half-back flank for his first game since undergoing LARS surgery after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in round one. Amon Buchanan and Jesse O'Brien are the other two additions to the extended bench and Rohan Bewick is the only omission.

Geelong has some significant ins with Joel Selwood the key inclusions after serving his four-match suspension.

Shannon Byrnes, Andrew Mackie, Darren Milburn, Tom Hawkins, Simon Hogan and Trent West make up the seven additions to the squad, with Mackie and Hawkins named to start on the field.

Brad Ottens is out with suspension while David Wojcinski, Daniel Menzel and Mitch Duncan have been dropped.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has run out of patience with forward Lindsay Thomas, who's wayward ways in front of goal have seen him register 17.29 for the season.

Thomas is the only omission at this stage from the line up poised to take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening with Gavin Urquhart, Ben Warren, Benjamin Speight and Jamie Macmillan the inclusions.

Captain Brent Harvey has been named despite remaining in doubt with a thumb injury sustained last weekend against Collingwood.