HAWTHORN tagger Daniel Howe and Richmond forward Dan Butler will play in the VFL this weekend as they push to feature in next week's AFL qualifying final.
The pair are among a cast of AFL-listed players set to line-up over the weekend in a bid to win a place in their club's senior finals side.
Howe will play for the Box Hill Hawks against Port Melbourne on Saturday, with fellow fringe players Kaiden Brand, Teia Miles and Taylor Duryea also included.
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Howe has not played since he was hit with a combined five-match ban in round 18, after he was found guilty of striking Carlton's Patrick Cripps and tripping young Blue Zac Fisher.
Fisher fractured his left leg in the incident.
But Howe could come back into the Hawks' line-up to try to shut down one of the Tigers' key midfielders next week if he gets through the VFL game unscathed.
Butler looks set to be on managed game time as he returns from an ankle injury given the short turnaround to the Tigers' qualifying final five days later.
Liam Baker has featured recently for the Tigers at AFL level, having played three games late in the season, but he will also join Butler in playing in the VFL clash at Punt Road on Saturday night against Williamstown.
Melbourne forward Mitch Hannan has been selected for the Casey Demons in their qualifying final against Geelong on Saturday, after being a late withdrawal with a knee injury in the Demons' round 23 win over Greater Western Sydney.
Speedy defender Jayden Hunt has also been selected for Casey, while the Cats have named Zac Smith in the ruck.
Jackson Thurlow, Lincoln McCarthy and key forward Esava Ratugolea are other Cats named in the VFL who could force their way into the Geelong side to face Melbourne in next Friday night's elimination final.
Meanwhile, Oscar Allen will line up for East Perth in an elimination final against Claremont on Sunday.
Allen played for the Eagles in the final-round win over Brisbane, but appears likely to make way for returning star Josh Kennedy.
Brendon Ah Chee and Jackson Nelson will be other Eagles looking to press their claims.
GWS failed to make the finals in the NEAFL, while the Swans have the week off ahead of next week's semi-final.
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