CARLTON
Plenty of action at the selection table this week for the Blues. Jarrad Waite (hip) is mounting a late bid to play after passing a series of fitness tests over the weekend. Matthew Kreuzer (foot) and Michael Jamison (knee) trained sparingly on Tuesday with Brett Ratten hopeful Kreuzer will retain his spot and Jamison will come back to bolster the defence. Andrew Carrazzo suffered mild whiplash in a traffic collision on Friday, but will definitely return to the team for the do-or-die clash. Bret Thornton should also be fit for selection. David Ellard, Paul Bower and Brock McLean were named in the best players for the Northern Bullants.
-Jason Phelan

COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies have a raft of players sure to cause the coaching staff headaches at selection committee this week. Nick Maxwell is available and wants to play on the day that will be just short of four weeks since he had his broken thumb operated on, while Leon Davis should come into calculations after missing last week with hamstring soreness. Heath Shaw is the other backman available after serving his eight-week suspension but Dale Thomas has to wait another game before he can return from his two-match sanction. Travis Cloke (knee), Ben Johnson (knee) and Chris Tarrant (ankle) were all sore after Friday night's loss to Geelong but should be right to go while Tyson Goldsack was bumped around and suffered rib and calf soreness and will likely face a fitness test.
-Jennifer Witham

ESSENDON
The Bombers had the bye last week, but will bring defender Dustin Fletcher (ankle) and midfielder Heath Hocking (suspension) back into the side which defeated Port Adelaide in round 23. Strong onballer Sam Lonergan could also return to the line-up for the first time since round 14, when he tore his medial ligament in his knee. Lonergan has now played two games at VFL level and performed well for the Bendigo Bombers last weekend.
-Callum Twomey

GEELONG
There are selection headaches aplenty for Chris Scott and his coaching staff in the lead-up to their big game against the Hawks. Mathew Stokes (general soreness) and Tom Lonergan (quad) look certain to return after missing last weekend's game against Collingwood. Star onballer Joel Corey, who has been sidelined by groin soreness in recent weeks, is also expected to be recalled. But doubts remain over whether retiring forward Cameron Mooney, who is fit to play, will be able to nudge either Tom Hawkins or Trent West out of the side.
-Adam McNicol

HAWTHORN
The Hawks will recall rested stars Luke Hodge, Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli, Shaun Burgoyne, Brad Sewell, Jordan Lewis, Grant Birchall and Max Bailey to face Geelong on Friday night, meaning eight members of Saturday's winning team will have to make way.
-Mark Macgugan

ST KILDA
David Armitage has served his one-game suspension and is back in contention for the Saints' game against the Sydney Swans. The problem is figuring out who he replaces and he may not be a walk-up start. Steven Baker has only played one game in the past 12 weeks but the Saints showed last year that they are not afraid to bring him in to a finals team after a lengthy absence.
-Luke Holmesby

SYDNEY SWANS
Sam Reid is likely to return to the forward line after missing last week's win over the Brisbane Lions with a slight calf problem. Heath Grundy also missed that game with a virus and failed to train on Tuesday. If both are passed fit, they will return to a Swans side riding a three-game winning streak. Lewis Jetta and Nick Malceski, who were the late inclusions last weekend, could be the unlucky ones making way. Lewis Roberts-Thomson also performed well for the reserves, but may have left his run a little too late to force his way back into the team to take on St Kilda in their elimination final.
-James Dampney

WEST COAST
Star onballer Daniel Kerr is battling to overcome back soreness, with the Eagles prepared to give him as long as necessary to recover. He is considered more likely to face Collingwood on Saturday than fellow midfielder Matt Rosa, who has not played since injuring a knee against Richmond in round 20. Key defender Will Schofield (fractured cheekbone) completed a solid running session on Monday and could return after one week on the sidelines, with Ash Smith vulnerable after suffering a hamstring complaint against the Crows in round 24.
-Nathan Schmook

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs