Richard Douglas and Ian Callinan are available for selection, but could be forced to return in the SANFL after a five-week injury layoff. Kurt Tippett is a slight chance to play against Geelong, but will more than likely miss another week. Chris Knights injured his hip in the win over the Brisbane Lions, but has been cleared of serious damage and should take his place in the team, while David Mackay (knee) is another week away. Brodie Martin played his best game in the local league for some time last weekend and is close to a recall.
-Katrina Gill
BRISBANE LIONS
Injury prone half-back Josh Drummond will play just his fourth game of the season against the Suns on Saturday night. The penetrating left-footed vice-captain has overcome a knee injury to play a couple of weeks in reserves and is expected to play his first senior game since round 13 against Richmond. Daniel Rich's stress reaction in his foot still has him one or two weeks from a return.
-Michael Whiting
CARLTON
Dennis Armfield was a late withdrawal from the team that defeated Melbourne, but he should be right to return from an ankle sprain when the Blues take on Fremantle in Perth. Andrew Carrazzo has been brought along slowly from a calf strain, but is ready to resume after five weeks out. Jarrad Waite is slated to return from the hip injury he sustained in round 16. Shaun Hampson is a chance to resume in the VFL after seven games out with a meniscus tear. Setanta O'hAilpin and Jordan Russell have been close to earning call-ups in recent weeks and will be considered again.
-Jason Phelan
COLLINGWOOD
Chris Dawes (hand) and Sharrod Wellingham (groin) face fitness tests while Harry O'Brien, who missed the trip to South Australia to thrash Port Adelaide, is likely to be available after resting a sore knee. Alan Toovey (finger) remains one to two weeks away. Veteran midfielder Ben Johnson is available to play after accepting a reprimand for rough conduct against Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray. Josh Thomas is reportedly moving close to senior selection after another impressive game in the VFL while Tom Young - who was an emergency on Saturday night - had six rebounds and 25 touches in the 39-point loss to Geelong on Saturday. Brent Macaffer, another omission for the Power game, didn't play VFL on the weekend.
-Jennifer Witham
ESSENDON
The Bombers won't be making too many changes to the side that beat the Sydney Swans by one point last week, and would be particularly thankful to get through the win without any more injury concerns. James Hird said post-game that Michael Hurley will be a week-to-week proposition with his sore foot. Andrew Welsh and Nathan Lovett-Murray will be close to senior selection having returned in the VFL last week, and Alex Browne will again be in contention.
-Callum Twomey
FREMANTLE
Ruckman Aaron Sandilands is likely to return from a toe injury this week with Fremantle's season on the line. The star big man has played just once in 10 weeks, but coach Mark Harvey has declared he is prepared to roll the dice against Carlton. David Mundy (leg) is less likely to be available, while selection for Sandilands would rule out a return for ruckman Jon Griffin (hip). Josh Mellington would likely have replaced Adam McPhee (suspended), but the young forward he has been sidelined for up to six weeks with an elbow injury, potentially opening the door for Ben Bucovaz or Ryan Crowley.
-Nathan Schmook
GEELONG
The Cats will bring back ruckman Brad Ottens and defender Corey Enright for their clash with Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday evening. Daniel Menzel, who has shaken off a back problem, is also likely to return. Shannon Byrnes has recovered from a calf strain, but he is expected to play in the VFL. Rookie Jonathan Simpkin was Geelong's best player in its VFL win over Collingwood last weekend, and Chris Scott has flagged the possibility of him being elevated to the senior list.
-Adam McNicol
GOLD COAST
Captain Gary Ablett is racing the clock to be fit for Saturday night's match against the Brisbane Lions but the initial hamstring injury was not serious and you would expect him to play. If coach Guy McKenna rests ruckman Zac Smith - as he has indicated - Tom Nicholls would be in line for his second AFL game.
-Michael Whiting
HAWTHORN
Huge selection pressure at the Hawks as the injury list dwindles and the wins keep coming. Shane Savage (shoulder) and Xavier Ellis (ankle) could both be passed fit to return for Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide. Ryan Schoenmakers was Box Hill's best on the weekend, and Chance Bateman, Cam Bruce and Jordan Lisle are also fit and awaiting a call-up.
-Mark Macgugan
MELBOURNE
Coach Todd Viney has already floated Liam Jurrah, Colin Sylvia and Cale Morton as possible inclusions after impressive games for VFL team Casey last week. Neville Jetta also booted three goals for the Scorpions to push his case for a recall. Mark Jamar may also be a chance after a foot injury kept him out of last week's loss to Carlton. Matthew Warnock was solid in defence and could be brought in this week to take on West Coast's tall forward line.
-Luke Holmesby
PORT ADELAIDE
Hamish Hartlett (shoulder reconstruction) and Jasper Pittard (hamstring) will miss the rest of the season, but the injury-ravaged Power could be bolstered by the returns of Troy Chaplin (foot), Matt Thomas (knee), Dean Brogan (calf) and Alipate Carlile (hip) this weekend. Jay Schulz (ankle) and Tom Logan (foot) are also a chance to play against Hawthorn. Coach Matt Primus might also look to get game time into untried forward John Butcher and rookies Daniel Bass and Tom Jonas before the end of the season.
-Katrina Gill
RICHMOND
The Tigers could lose midfielder Daniel Jackson for their match against the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Sunday. Jackson suffered a hip injury in his team's 57-point loss to West Coast at Patersons Stadium. Jayden Post and Andrew Browne were the best players for Coburg and the VFL and both are a strong chance to get a call-up to take on the Swans.
-Adam McNicol
ST KILDA
Zac Dawson should come straight back into the team to face Collingwood this week after serving a one game suspension. Tom Simpkin and Steven Baker were once again among the better players for VFL team Sandringham while Tom Lynch and Tom Walsh were impressive again. Michael Gardiner got through another game for the Zebras and surely must be getting closer to his first senior game of 2011.
-Luke Holmesby
SYDNEY SWANS
The Sydney Swans welcomed back a host of players from injury to their reserves last weekend and the coaching staff hopes they can soon be pushing for senior selection. Gary Rohan, Jed Lamb and Matt Spangher all made it through their comeback matches in the seconds, with Rohan, in particular, viewed by coach John Longmire as someone who could boost the Swans' prospects in the closing weeks of the home-and-away season. Jarred Moore continues to toil away in the reserves, kicking four goals in the big win over Belconnen on the weekend, but he will find it hard to force his way into the side which is coming off a one-point loss to Essendon.
-James Dampney
WEST COAST
Star forward Josh Kennedy is available after missing two games with an eye injury, but ruckman Dean Cox faces a fitness test after sustaining a knock to the hip against Richmond. Key defender Eric Mackenzie (hamstring) will also be tested. There is a long queue forming to replace injured wingman Matt Rosa (knee), with Koby Stevens, Tom Swift and Bradd Dalziell all options for the Eagles' match committee. Ashton Hams, who had 28 possessions, four goals and 10 tackles in an outstanding WAFL performance at the weekend, also has strong claims.
-Nathan Schmook
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins, who both have a sore knee, are poised to be tested this week to see how they felt after two matches out. The Dogs look set to regain Dale Morris, who was a late withdrawal from the round 19 loss to West Coast with groin soreness, but will lose Tom Williams, who has a foot problem. Lindsay Gilbee, Dylan Addison, Lukas Markovic and Jarrad Grant were omitted ahead of that game while Ayce Cordy and Will Minson were held over from Williamstown's Foxtel Cup grand final triumph on Saturday evening and Jordan Roughead, Mitch Wallis, Christian Howard and Nathan Djerrkura were in the Seagulls' best.
-Jennifer Witham
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
