ESSENDON champion Jobe Watson will suit up for potentially his last match in Melbourne against Fremantle on Sunday after overcoming soreness, while star Dockers onballer Lachie Neale is also set to return.
Watson missed last round's trip to Gold Coast but the retiring midfielder is back, alongside speedster Travis Colyer, for the Etihad Stadium clash.
The Bombers have lost goalsneak Josh Green (foot) and dropped Craig Bird for the crunch encounter, where a convincing victory would all-but seal a fairytale return to finals.
The Dockers have acted by axing four players after back-to-back 104-point thumpings as they search for a competitive finish to 2017.
Young defenders Griffin Logue and Ryan Nyhuis plus forwards Cam McCarthy and Josh Deluca have been dropped, with first-year ruckman Sean Darcy also out suspended.
Jon Griffin comes in to replace Darcy, while Neale (groin/knee), Tommy Sheridan, key defender Sam Collins and Shane Kersten round out the 22.
Check out the full round 23 teams
Richmond will be unchanged against St Kilda at the MCG after belting the Dockers last round.
Victory for the Tigers would seal a top-four berth but they could slip to sixth if St Kilda springs an upset in Nick Riewoldt's likely farewell game.
The Saints, who still hold an outside chance to sneak into the top eight, have been forced into one change after beating North Melbourne, with veteran Sam Gilbert (abdominal strain) replaced by small forward Jack Lonie.
West Coast and Adelaide will clash in the final match of the home and away season in the farewell to Domain Stadium in Sunday's late game.
The Eagles could be playing for a finals spot if results go their way while the Crows might be fighting for top spot, or the contest could be a dead rubber.
West Coast has made one change, bringing back veteran Mark LeCras, after two weeks on the sidelines battling a hamstring, to replace Josh Hill.
Adelaide has lost star bookends Taylor Walker (toe) and Daniel Talia (ankle), with Hugh Greenwood omitted.
Kyle Hartington, Wayne Milera and Paul Seedsman will get their chance to impress before the qualifying final in two weeks' time.
Sunday, August 27
Essendon v Fremantle at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
ESSENDON
In: J.Watson, T.Colyer
Out: C.Bird, J.Green (foot)
FREMANTLE
In: J.Griffin, T.Sheridan, S.Kersten, L.Neale, S.Collins
Out: R.Nyhuis, C.McCarthy, S.Darcy (suspension), J.Deluca, G.Logue
Richmond v St Kilda at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST
RICHMOND
No changes
ST KILDA
In: J.Lonie
Out: S.Gilbert (abdominal strain)
West Coast v Adelaide at Domain Stadium, 2.20pm AWST
WEST COAST
In: M.LeCras
Out: J.Hill
ADELAIDE
In: K.Hartigan, P.Seedsman, W.Milera
Out: T.Walker (toe), D.Talia (ankle), H.Greenwood
