ADELAIDE will be without Rory Sloane for the second straight week on Saturday night against Gold Coast, but regains fellow All Australian midfielder Matt Crouch and David Mackay.
In other selection news, Sydney has suffered a new injury blow, key Demon Tom McDonald is a chance to play his first game of the season and the Bombers have added nine players to their 26-man squad.
Crouch (hamstring) last played in round two, while Mackay has suffered two concussions this season and Sloane wasn't quite ready to return from his foot injury.
The downside for the Crows is Jake Kelly (hand) and Kyle Hartigan (hamstring) go out.
Michael Barlow's big ball-winning ways in the NEAFL finally convinced the Suns to promote him for the clash.
Max Spencer is also back for Gold Coast, which dropped Michael Rischitelli and lost Darcy MacPherson (broken leg) and left out Aaron Hall again.
The returns of Caleb Marchbank and Matthew Kennedy, both from ankle injuries, will bolster Carlton as it hunts a maiden victory for the season at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
They take the places of dumped pair Jed Lamb and Jarrod Garlett for the clash against the Western Bulldogs.
Lachie Hunter is back from suspension for the Dogs, who also regain Hayden Crozier (knee) and Bailey Williams (ear).
Forward Tory Dickson (hamstring) was their sole forced out, while Lukas Webb and Mitch Honeychurch were axed.
Another tall is out for Sydney as it prepares for the challenge of facing Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
Dean Towers (eye) is the latest injured Swan, joining Lance Franklin (bruised heel) and Dan Hannebery (groin) as the side's key outs, with Sam Reid (quad) already on the sidelines.
Robbie Fox, Daniel Robinson and debutant Ben Ronke are their replacements.
Tom Hawkins (back spasms) returns for the Cats after being a late withdrawal last week, as does Cory Gregson (midfoot sprain).
As reported earlier on Thursday, in-form spearhead Daniel Menzel (groin) won't play, while Jackson Thurlow (omitted) is the other out.
Port Adelaide has brought back Dom Barry and Aidyn Johnson for Saturday's match with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
The Power, which is seeking to avoid three consecutive defeats, lost Hamish Hartlett (knee) and Lindsay Thomas (suspension).
The Roos made only one change, with last year's No.5 pick Luke Davies-Uniacke returning – after being rested last week – for Shaun Higgins (concussion).
Higgins was hospitalised after a much-scrutinised collision with Ryan Burton.
Defender Ed Vickers-Willis, who was concussed in a separate incident only seconds after Higgins, was named in North's line-up.
Greater Western Sydney has lost gun forward Toby Greene (foot) for the clash with winless Brisbane at Spotless Stadium.
Joining Greene in coming out of the side is omitted big man Dawson Simpson, with Zac Langdon back and Nick Shipley, the Giants' first home-grown academy product, to make his debut.
The moment you find out you're going to make your AFL debut.
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) April 26, 2018
Congratulations to our first draftee out of Western Sydney, Nick Shipley!#BeGIANT pic.twitter.com/5gMu2SdSH6
Daniel Rich (ankle) will play his first match for the Lions since round one, alongside another debutant, ruckman Oscar McInerney.
Veteran recruit Luke Hodge will sit out the contest, while Ryan Bastinac was dropped.
Shaun Burgoyne's return from a hamstring highlights Hawthorn's inclusions, which also include debutant James Worpel and premiership player Will Langford.
The moment @jamesworpel found out he'd be making his AFL debut. ✨#GameFaceOn pic.twitter.com/90zxbWIVKg
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) April 26, 2018
James Sicily (suspension) will miss Saturday night's match-up with St Kilda, along with Liam Shiels (back spasms) and Conor Glass, who was omitted.
Rebounding backman Jimmy Wester (hip flexor) is the Saints' only inclusion for top-10 draftee Hunter Clark.
Essendon could make as many as nine changes for Sunday's showdown with Melbourne in a potentially extraordinary response to the lopsided defeat on Anzac Day.
Five Bombers are already out, with Josh Begley (knee) and Josh Green (hamstring) injured, Michael Hartley dropped and Tom Bellchambers and David Myers rested.
Jayden Laverde, Matthew Leuenberger, Patrick Ambrose, Kyle Langford, Kobe Mutch, Ben McNiece, Jordan Ridley, Dylan Clarke and Shaun McKernan are jostling for spots.
The Demons aren't far behind, listing as many as seven possible additions as they prepare for a five-day turnaround.
Tom McDonald (foot) may play his first match for the year, while Jordan Lewis (hand) is also likely to return and Charlie Spargo is confirmed to make his debut.
Bayley Fritsch, Mitch Hannan, Tim Smith and Joel Smith are also in the mix to replace Christian Petracca (infected finger), Dean Kent (hamstring) and Billy Stretch (omitted).
DOG BITES MAN: Petracca ruled out
Premiership players Nick Vlastuin (calf), Josh Caddy (hamstring) and Jack Graham (suspension) are potential inclusions for Richmond's game against Collingwood at the MCG.
Ivan Soldo is another possible in for the Tigers, who are yet to drop anyone.
The Magpies have rested Travis Varcoe, with Jarryd Blair, Josh Smith, Flynn Appleby, Chris Mayne and Brayden Sier hoping to force their way in.
West Coast dasher Lewis Jetta (soreness) is back for the Western Derby, where first-year speedster Jack Petruccelle will make his debut.
ALL THE FEELINGS!
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) April 26, 2018
Turn the sound up and enjoy as Jack Petruccelle and the boys find out about our next AFL debutant! pic.twitter.com/1ZxxKPja6O
The Eagles could also turn to Will Schofield and Fraser McInnes against Fremantle, which could include Michael Johnson, Shane Kersten, Ethan Hughes, Scott Jones and Tommy Sheridan.
Key forward Matt Taberner, who could miss the next two months recovering from a serious foot injury, is the only Docker out so far.
Friday, April 27
Western Bulldogs v Carlton at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: L.Hunter, H.Crozier, B.Williams
Out: T.Dickson (hamstring), L.Webb, M.Honeychurch
CARLTON
In: C.Marchbank, M.Kennedy
Out: J.Lamb, J.Garlett
Saturday, April 28
Geelong v Sydney at GMHBA Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
GEELONG
In: T.Hawkins, C.Gregson
Out: D.Menzel (groin), J.Thurlow
SYDNEY
In: R.Fox, D.Robinson, B.Ronke
Out: D.Hannebery (groin), L.Franklin (foot), D.Towers (eye)
New: Ben Ronke (Calder U18)
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
NORTH MELBOURNE
In: L.Davies-Uniacke
Out: S.Higgins (concussion)
PORT ADELAIDE
In: D.Barry, A.Johnson
Out: H.Hartlett (knee), L.Thomas (suspension)
Greater Western Sydney v Brisbane Lions at Spotless Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
In: N.Shipley, Z.Langdon
Out: D.Simpson, T.Greene (foot)
New: Nick Shipley (NSW/ACT U18)
BRISBANE LIONS
In: D.Rich, O.McInerney
Out: L.Hodge (rested), R.Bastinac
New: Oscar McInerney (Casey)
Hawthorn v St Kilda at University of Tasmania Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
HAWTHORN
In: J.Worpel, S.Burgoyne, W.Langford
Out: J.Sicily (suspension), L.Shiels (back), C.Glass
New: James Worpel (Geelong U18)
ST KILDA
In: J.Webster
Out: H.Clark
Adelaide v Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST
ADELAIDE
In: M.Crouch, D.Mackay
Out: J.Kelly (hand), K.Hartigan (hamstring)
GOLD COAST
In: M.Barlow, M.Spencer
Out: M.Rischitelli, D.MacPherson (leg)
Sunday, April 29
Essendon v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
ESSENDON
In: J.Laverde, M.Leuenberger, P.Ambrose, K.Langford, K.Mutch, B.McNiece, J.Ridley, D.Clarke, S.McKernan
Out: J.Begley (knee), T.Bellchambers (rested), J.Green (hamstring), D.Myers (rested), M.Hartley
New: Kobe Mutch (Bendigo U18), Jordan Ridley (Oakleigh U18), Dylan Clarke (Eastern U18)
MELBOURNE
In: J.Lewis, C.Spargo, B.Fritsch, M.Hannan, T.McDonald, T.Smith, J.Smith
Out: C.Petracca (finger), D.Kent (hamstring), B.Stretch
New: Charlie Spargo (Murray U18)
Collingwood v Richmond at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST
COLLINGWOOD
In: F.Appleby, J.Blair, C.Mayne, B.Sier, J.Smith
Out: T.Varcoe (managed)
New: Flynn Appleby (Greater Western Victoria U18), Brayden Sier (Northern U18)
RICHMOND
In: N.Vlastuin, J.Caddy, J.Graham, I.Soldo
Out: -
Fremantle v West Coast at Optus Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
FREMANTLE
In: M.Johnson, S.Kersten, E.Hughes, S.Jones, T.Sheridan
Out: M.Taberner (foot)
New: Scott Jones (East Perth)
WEST COAST
In: L.Jetta, J.Petruccelle, W.Schofield, F.McInnes
Out: -
New: Jack Petruccelle (Northern U18)