A RESURGENT Brisbane hosts the ladder-leading Sydney at the Gabba in the first of three games on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions' season is well and truly back on track after six wins on the trot, but the Swans remain the clear competition frontrunner with a three-game buffer atop the table.
LIONS v SWANS Follow it LIVE
Brisbane (10-6-1) surged into the top four for the first time all season after last week's win over West Coast, after sitting as low as 13th mid-year.
The Lions have turned their home ground back into a fortress, winning their past five at the venue, but might want to avoid a shootout against a Swans outfit that has passed 100 points 11 times this year.
But another against the competition benchmark will be just what the Lions are looking for to prove their premiership credentials.
Sydney (14-3) returned to form after two narrow defeats with a resounding victory over North Melbourne last week, but can expect a stiffer challenge against last year's runner-up.
The Swans still need to address the slow starts that have had them fail to lead by more than a goal at the first change in nine weeks, and won't want to give the Lions any leeway as they look for a seventh win on the trot.
Brisbane has rested defender Conor McKenna and forward Logan Morris has been omitted, making way for debutant ruck Henry Smith and reliable defender Brandon Starcevich for the clash.
Sydney brings back Isaac Heeney from suspension, while Harry Cunningham and Corey Warner earn recalls. Injured duo Justin McInerney and James Rowbottom join managed skipper Callum Mills out of the team.
Brisbane v Sydney at the Gabba, 1.10pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Bruce Reville
Sydney: Corey Warner
Melbourne heads west to face Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
DOCKERS v DEMONS Follow it LIVE
The Dockers (10-6-1) arguably announced themselves as a top-four contender when demolishing Melbourne by 92 points just seven weeks ago in Alice Springs.
Freo has gone on to win three of five matches since then but fell back into the chasing pack with a defeat to the Hawks last week, and another loss to the in-form Demons could see the Dockers drop out of the top eight altogether.
Fremantle v Melbourne at Optus Stadium, 1.20pm AWST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: James Aish
Melbourne: Jack Billings
Melbourne (10-7) made it back-to-back wins with a rousing victory over Essendon as an undermanned line-up, missing captain Max Gawn, returned to the top eight for the first time since round 11.
The Demons could now leapfrog the Dockers and climb to the brink of the top four with their first win on the road since two-in-two weeks at Adelaide Oval in rounds four and five.
Fremantle will field close to its strongest team in the clash after bringing back skipper Alex Pearce, ruck Sean Darcy and speedster Brandon Walker. Josh Draper, Matt Johnson and Patrick Voss are out of the side.
Melbourne opted to leave skipper Max Gawn (ankle) at home, while Jack Billings comes in for last week's sub Taj Woewodin.
In the final game of the round, finals-hopeful Carlton and a much-improved North Melbourne meet at Marvel Stadium.
BLUES v KANGAROOS Follow it LIVE
Carlton (11-6) had looked like the most likely challenger to pacesetters Sydney for much of the season, but the Blues now at risk of dropping out of the top four altogether after back-to-back defeats.
The Blues' twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combined for nine goals the last time these two sides met but will now face a different prospect against a more settled Roos defence.
Carlton v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, 4.40pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: David Cuningham
North Melbourne: Liam Shiels
After a promising month, North Melbourne (2-15) came crashing back to earth with a thud when Sydney handed it a 79-point reality check.
The Kangaroos face another tough task against an opponent desperate to bounce back from two consecutive defeats, but they might like their chances with their emerging midfield set to test the Blues.
Carlton has made four changes to its side, dropping Marc Pittonet and Brodie Kemp alongside injured pair Zac Williams and Jordan Boyd. Midfielders George Hewett and Jack Carroll return, as do forwards David Cuningham and Jesse Motlop.
North Melbourne welcomes defender Griffin Logue back for his first game since rupturing his ACL in round 17 last year, while Zac Fisher and Robert Hansen jnr also come into the side. Curtis Taylor, Kallan Dawson and Toby Pink have been dropped.
