SYDNEY Swans star Lance Franklin is set to launch his season in Sunday's NAB Challenge clash against Fremantle.
The 2014 Coleman medallist has been managed this pre-season because of a right knee issue, but he has been named in a strong 29-man squad as the Swans' ramp up their preparations for round one.
The Swans have also picked champion Adam Goodes and key defenders Ted Richards and Heath Grundy as they move closer to their best line-up.
Fremantle has named club champion Nat Fyfe and star ruckman Aaron Sandilands in its 29-man squad.
Melbourne has selected a largely unchanged squad for its second NAB Challenge match, with father-son draftee Billy Stretch and Jack Watts included to face the Western Bulldogs.
Midfielder Jack Viney has also been named after he was withdrawn late in the opening round of the NAB Challenge following a head clash at training.
The Bulldogs have named a weakened squad, with captain Robert Murphy, Luke Dahlhaus, Jack Macrae, Koby Stevens and Lachie Hunter all omitted.
Port Adelaide will also take an understrength team into its clash against Richmond in Albury on Saturday, with All Australian pair Travis Boak and Robbie Gray left out.
Vice-captain Brad Ebert and key forwards Jay Schulz and Justin Westhoff have also been left out after playing in the opening NAB Challenge match.
Johann Wagner, who was drafted onto the Power rookie list after winning the Foxtel reality program The Recruit, is in line to make his debut.
The Tigers have named Brett Deledio in their extended squad after a carefully managed pre-season because of an Achilles tendon issue.
After holding their senior players back in the first round of pre-season matches, the Tigers have named a significantly stronger line-up, with Ivan Maric, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance all recalled.
A host of big names will also return for Collingwood, with captain Scott Pendlebury, midfielder Dane Swan and key forward Travis Cloke all named to play their first matches of the pre-season.
Important defender Ben Reid, however, hasn't been named to face Carlton after recovering from a calf injury.
Midfielders Chris Judd and Bryce Gibbs have been named in the Blues' extended squad for Sunday's clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
Important talls Lachie Henderson and Michael Jamison could also play their first pre-season matches.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v MELBOURNE
Eureka Stadium (Ballarat), Saturday 14 March, 4.10pm AEDT
Western Bulldogs
1. Jarrad Grant, 3. Mitch Wallis, 4. Marcus Bontempelli, 5. Matthew Boyd, 9. Jake Stringer, 15. Tom Campbell, 16. Toby McLean, 17. Tom Boyd, 19. Lukas Webb, 20. Daniel Pearce, 22. Mitch Honeychurch, 26. Declan Hamilton, 27. Will Minson, 28. Josh Prudden, 29. Tory Dickson, 30. Joel Hamling, 31. Bailey Dale, 32. Michael Talia, 33. Sam Darley, 34. Jordan Kelly, 35. Caleb Daniel, 37. Roarke Smith, 38. Dale Morris, 39. Jason Johannisen, 42. Liam Picken, 43. Jack Redpath, 44. Brett Goodes, 46. Lin Jong, 49. Ayce Cordy
Melbourne
1. Jesse Hogan, 2. Nathan Jones, 3. Christian Salem, 4. Jack Watts, 5. Jimmy Toumpas, 6. Chris Dawes, 7. Jack Viney, 8. Heritier Lumumba, 11. Max Gawn, 12. Dom Tyson, 13. Jordie Mckenzie, 14. Lynden Dunn, 15. Billy Stretch, 17. Sam Frost, 18. Daniel Cross, 19. Ben Newton, 20. Colin Garland, 21. Cameron Pedersen, 22. Viv Michie, 24. Jay Kennedy-Harris, 25. Tom McDonald, 31. Jack Grimes, 36. Jeff Garlett, 37. Aaron vandenBerg, 39. Neville Jetta, 40. Mark Jamar, 44. Rohan Bail, 45. Matt Jones, 48. Jack Fitzpatrick
RICHMOND v PORT ADELAIDE
Lavington Sports Ground, Saturday 14 March, 4.40pm AEDT
Richmond
2. Dylan Grimes, 3. Brett Deledio, 4. Dustin Martin, 5. Brandon Ellis, 6. Shaun Grigg, 8. Jack Riewoldt , 10. Shane Edwards, 11. Jake Batchelor, 13. Ricky Petterd, 14. Bachar Houli, 16. Shaun Hampson, 18. Alex Rance, 20. Ivan Maric, 22. Nathan Gordon, 25. Troy Chaplin, 26. Anthony Miles, 27. Sam Lloyd, 28. Taylor Hunt, 29. Tyrone Vickery , 30. Reece Conca, 31. Nick Vlastuin, 33. Kamdyn McIntosh, 34. Liam McBean, 35. Ben McDonough. 36. Matthew McDonough, 38. Steven Morris, 43. Todd Elton, 44. Matthew Arnot, 48. Kane Lambert
Port Adelaide
2.. Kane Mitchell, 3. Jake Neade, 5. Matthew Broadbent, 11. John Butcher, 13. Cameron O’Shea, 14. Paul Stewart, 15. Karl Amon, 16. Ollie Wines, 17. Tom Clurey, 19. Matt White, 21. Jared Polec, 23. Matthew Lobbe, 24. Jarman Impey, 26, Andrew Moore, 29. Jasper Pittard, 31. Mitchell Harvey, 32. Dougal Howard, 33. Darcy Byrne-Jones, 34. Jarrad Redden, 36 Jack Hombsch, 37. Jesse Palmer, 40. Aaron Young, 41.Brendon Ah Chee, 42 Tom Jonas, 43. Johann Wagner, 44. Tom Logan, 46. Sam Gray, 47. Sam Russell, 48. Nathan Krakouer
SYDNEY SWANS v FREMANTLE
Drummoyne Oval, Sunday 15 March, 4.10pm AEDT
Sydney Swans
2. Rhyce Shaw, 3. Jarrad McVeigh, 4. Dan Hannebery, 5. Isaac Heeney, 6. Tom Mitchell, 7. Harry Cunningham, 11. Jeremy Laidler, 12. Josh Kennedy, 13. Toby Nankervis, 14. Craig Bird, 15. Kieren Jack, 16. Gary Rohan, 17. Jack Hiscox, 19. Tom Derickx, 22. Dean Towers, 23. Lance Franklin, 24. Dane Rampe, 25. Ted Richards, 26. Luke Parker, 27. Daniel Robinson, 32. Lewis Jetta, 33. Brandon Jack, 35. Sam Naismith, 37. Adam Goodes, 38. Mike Pyke, 39. Heath Grundy, 40. Nick Smith, 42. Xavier Richards.
Fremantle
1. Hayden Ballantyne, 5. Garrick Ibbotson, 7. Nathan Fyfe, 8. Nick Suban, 9. Matt De Boer, 10. Michael Walters, 11. Tom Sheridan, 12. Jon Griffin, 13. Tendai Mzungu, 14. Lachie Weller, 16. David Mundy, 17. Hayden Crozier, 18. Luke McPharlin, 19. Connor Blakely, 22. Tanner Smith, 23. Chris Mayne, 24. Max Duffy, 27. Lachie Neale, 28. Brady Grey, 29. Matthew Pavlich, 30. Zac Clarke, 31. Aaron Sandilands, 32. Stephen Hill, 33. Cam Sutcliffe, 35. Michael Apeness, 36. Alex Silvagni, 37. Michael Johnson, 38. Jack Hannath, 46. Clancee Pearce
COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON
Queen Elizabeth Oval (Bendigo), Sunday 15 March, 4.40pm AEDT
Collingwood
1. Alex Fasolo, 2. Sam Dwyer, 4. Brodie Grundy, 5. Jamie Elliott, 6. Tyson Goldsack, 7. Ben Kennedy, 8. Tom Langdon, 9. Jesse White, 10. Scott Pendlebury, 11. Jarryd Blair, 13. Taylor Adams, 16. Nathan Brown, 18. Travis Varcoe, 19. Levi Greenwood, 21. Nathan Freeman, 22. Steele Sidebottom, 24. Josh Thomas, 25. Jack Crisp, 26. Marley Williams, 28. Ben Sinclair, 29. Tim Broomhead, 31. Jackson Ramsay, 32. Travis Cloke, 33. Patrick Karnezis, 34. Alan Toovey
Carlton
2. Troy Menzel, 4. Bryce Gibbs, 5. Chris Judd, 6. Kade Simpson, 7. Dylan Buckley, 9. Patrick Cripps, 10. Matthew Watson, 11. Rob Warnock, 12. Blaine Boekhorst, 13. Chris Yarran, 14. Liam Jones, 15. Sam Docherty, 17. Sam Rowe, 18. Kristian Jaksch, 22. Jason Tutt, 23. Lachie Henderson, 25. Clem Smith, 27. Dennis Armfield, 28. Tom Bell, 31. Matthew Dick, 32. Nicholas Graham, 33. Andrejs Everitt, 35. Ed Curnow, 38. Ciaran Byrne, 40. Michael Jamison, 41. Levi Casboult, 42. Zach Tuohy, 43. Simon White, 44. Andrew Carrazzo
