The Magpies have brought in two – ruckman Josh Fraser and defender Tyson Goldsack – with youngster Dayne Beams and Anthony Corrie to make way for the pair.
However, the biggest blow for the Pies is the fact that none of their attacking stars have come up after also missing last week’s crushing loss to Carlton.
Collingwood had hoped Alan Didak (hamstring), Paul Medhurst (ankle), Anthony Rocca (knee) or Dale Thomas (knee) might be fit to tackle the Eagles but none have been selected. Instead the Magpies, who have kicked just 10 goals from their past two matches, will have to rely on others to kick a score against the Eagles, who have proven to be a formidable side on home soil.
West Coast, on the other hand, welcomes back its marquee player.
Daniel Kerr is one of two changes to the Eagles side that just fell short against the Swans last week. He returns from an adductor strain, with Brad Ebert also coming back into the team
Brett Jones and Jamie McNamara go out of the team, while Adam Hunter – who had been tipped to return and play his 150th match – is an emergency.
Geelong welcomes back superstar Gary Ablett - along with Paul Chapman - as the Cats made four changes to their line-up for Friday night footy against the Western Bulldogs.
It wasn’t all good news for Mark Thompson with Cameron Mooney (suspension), Darren Milburn (ankle) and Shannon Byrnes (hamstring) all forced to miss the clash, while Tom Lonergan seems a victim of circumstance as the Cats opt for a smaller line-up against the pacy Dogs.
Along with Ablett and Chapman, Ryan Gamble earns another opportunity in attack while David Johnson will be called on in a defensive role.
The Western Bulldogs also have injury worries, with Rodney Eade forced to make three changes to his side.
The Dogs have regained Shaun Higgins and brought in Callan Ward along with former Cat Tim Callan, who will play his first senior match of the season.
But there have been casualties at Whitten Oval, with Robert Murphy (hamstring), Andrejs Everitt (foot) and Dylan Addison (knee) forced out of the preliminary final rematch.
North Melbourne has recalled three key midfielders for its must-win clash with Fremantle at Docklands on Saturday.
Potential match-winner Daniel Wells is the big in for the Kangaroos, while exciting youngster Jack Ziebell and the super-consistent Brady Rawlings also return from injury.
Ed Lower, Daniel Harris and Matt Riggio all go out of the team that lost to Geelong by 70 points but could earn a late call-up.
Des Headland needs only to get through Fremantle’s light training run in Melbourne on Friday to play his first AFL game of the season.
Headland’s likely comeback would be the only change for Freo, with youngster Greg Broughton likely to make way.
Adelaide coach Neil Craig intended on making two changes to the side that faded badly against the Brisbane Lions, but stuck with one after tagger Robert Shirley's appeal of a SANFL suspension was unsuccessful.
Ruckman Ivan Maric will face Carlton on Saturday, while midfielder Brent Reilly keeps his spot after his earlier omission. Youngster Jared Petrenko isn't so lucky.
Fresh from its big win over the Pies, Carlton looks set to take an unchanged line-up to AAMI Stadium, with Simon Wiggins and Ryan Houlihan among the emergencies.
Forgotten Richmond defender Will Thursfield will play just his second game for the season as Richmond made two changes for Saturday’s ‘Dreamtime at the G’ clash.
Thursfield and big man Adam Pattison are the inclusions as the Tigers try to shake off their turbulent week. The pair replace Ben Cousins, who will miss a week with a broken bone in his hand, while ruckman Angus Graham has a hamstring injury.
Essendon will further ramp up its speed stocks after its recalled small forward Leroy Jetta for the clash with the Tigers.
Jetta replaces David Myers, who has been omitted, while Scott Lucas is among the emergencies.
Time will tell whether Nick Malceski’s four goals at reserves level were enough to earn him a recall to the Sydney Swans team to face Port Adelaide at the SCG on Sunday.
He is among three additions to the seven-man interchange, along with Jared Crouch and Kristin Thornton.
Port Adelaide hopes shoulder victim Steven Salopek has recovered in time to face the Swans. Salopek, who has missed a week after dislocating his right shoulder, has been included in his team’s 25-man squad along with Marlon Motlop and Matthew Westhoff.
St Kilda hasn’t seen any need to alter its winning combination, with three players added to its all-conquering line-up to face the Brisbane Lions.
Robert Eddy, Raphael Clarke and Ben McEvoy are in contention to play on Sunday but will know their fate when Ross Lyon trims his squad on Friday.
The Brisbane Lions have been hit with injury, with key defensive duo Daniel Merrett (ankle) and Joel Patfull (jaw) both set to miss up to a month.
Young forward Aaron Cornelius, who showed glimpses during the pre-season, could make his AFL debut, while Jason Roe, Tom Collier, Tim Notting and Irishman Pearce Hanley are also in the mix.
Hawthorn’s Beau Muston looks like being the good-news story of the round, with the 22-year-old set to make his AFL debut after a three frustrating years on the Hawks’ list.
Muston was taken with pick 22 in the 2005 draft but has been plagued by knee injuries. He has been named in his team’s starting 18 with Brent Renouf and Cameron Stokes the other potential inclusions with the Hawks to finalise their side on Friday.
Hawthorn meets Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday evening and the Demons will make at least two changes.
Lynden Dunn and Shane Valenti are out of the team that lost to the Western Bulldogs, however there are some big ins for Dean Bailey.
Brad Green has made a speedy return from a broken jaw, while key defenders Jared Rivers and James Frawley are also back to face the Hawks’ potent forward line. Jamie Bennell and Mark Jamar are others in line to face the reigning premiers.
