ESSENDON will field an almost unrecognisable side in its NAB Challenge opener against St Kilda on Saturday, naming just two of its experienced players for the clash. 

Acting captain Paul Chapman and ruckman Jonathan Giles will be the only senior players from Essendon's main list to feature against the Saints at Morwell.

The club announced a 26-man squad on Thursday, which included last year's first-round draft pick Kyle Langford, father-son prospect Jake Long, and Irishman Conor McKenna.

That 70s show: Dons' top-up jumper numbers revealed

All 13 of the club's top-up players have been named, alongside emerging youngsters Martin Gleeson, Jackson Merrett and Jason Ashby.

St Kilda have picked a stronger team for the contest, including Luke Dunstan, who missed last week's NAB Challenge game with an ankle injury.

Ruckman Tom Hickey is in the mix to play after missing last week, as is key defender Hugh Goddard. 

Greater Western Sydney will unveil boom recruit Ryan Griffen against Gold Coast on Saturday at Blacktown.

Defender Joel Patfull, who crossed to the Giants from the Brisbane Lions last year, has also been named to face the Suns, who will again be without captain Gary Ablett. 

Long-kicking mature-age rookie Josh Glenn has been included in the Suns squad. 

North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow will make his first appearance of the pre-season when the Kangaroos line up against Hawthorn on Sunday at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.

Roos ruckman Todd Goldstein will also play, while the club's first pick at last year's NAB AFL Draft, key defender Sam Durdin, has been named.

Star midfielder Daniel Wells was initially picked in the squad, but he was still feeling sore from a 'corkie' at training on Thursday afternoon and has been withdrawn.

Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli is in for the clash, while recruit Jonathan O'Rourke, who was traded by the Giants last year, could don his new club's colours for the first time having been picked in the 29-man squad.  

Port Adelaide has named an experienced side to face West Coast on Sunday, with no debutants selected but re-drafted rookie Nathan Krakouer in the squad. 

Neat left-footed midfielder Liam Duggan, pick No.11 at last year's draft, is in the Eagles' squad, while experienced midfielders Luke Shuey, Sharrod Wellingham and Andrew Gaff have all been selected.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY v GOLD COAST
Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday, March 7, 4.10pm AEDT

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
1. Phil Davis, 2. Curtly Hampton, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 4. Toby Greene, 5 Dylan Shiel, 6. Lachie Whitfield, 8. Callan Ward, 11. Jed Lamb, 14. Tomas Bugg, 15. Tim Golds, 16. Nathan Wilson, 18. Jeremy Cameron, 19. Nick Haynes, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matt Buntine, 22. Josh Kelly, 24. Joel Patfull, 25. Cam McCarthy, 27. Andrew Phillips, 29. Zac Williams, 31. Jacob Townsend, 32. Ryan Griffen, 33. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 35. Aidan Corr, 37. Rory Lobb, 38. Jack Steele, 40. Adam Kennedy, 43. Jake Barrett, 44. Tom Downie

GOLD COAST
2. Zac Smith, 4. Jack Martin, 6. Alex Sexton, 7. Nick Malceski, 11. Harley Bennell, 13. Andrew Boston, 14. Mitch Hallahan, 15. Daniel Gorringe, 18. Trent McKenzie, 19. Tom Lynch, 21. Jack Leslie, 22. Tom Nicholls, 24. David Swallow, 25. Danny Stanley, 26. Matthew Shaw. 28. Kade Kolodjashnij, 31. Keegan Brooksby, 32. Brandon Matera, 34. Josh Glenn, 36. Greg Broughton, 37. Jesse Lonergan, 39. Louis Herbert, 40. Sean Lemmens, 41. Jarrod Garlett, 42. Adam Saad, 43. Jarred Ellis, 44. Touk Miller, 46. Josh Hall, 48. Seb Tape

ESSENDON v ST KILDA
Morwell Recreation Reserve, Saturday, March 7, 4.40pm AEDT

ESSENDON
3. Paul Chapman, 10. Nick O’Brien, 14. Jason Ashby, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Jackson Merrett, 28. Jonathon Giles, 28. Elliott Kavanagh, 30. Kyle Langford, 34. Jake Long, 35. Marty Gleeson, 36. Lauchlan Dalgleish, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 47. Marcus Marigliani, 50. James Polkinghorne, 51. Aaron Heppell, 54. Josh Freezer, 55. Anthony Tipungwuti, 56. Jordan Schroder, 58. Sam Tagliabue, 72. Clint Jones, 73. Mitch Brown, 74. Mitch Clisby, 75. Jared Petrenko, 76. James Magner, 77. Sam Michael

ST KILDA
1. Tom Hickey, 3. Jack Steven, 4. Eli Templeton, 6. Seb Ross, 7. Luke Dunstan, 8. Blake Acres, 9. Tommy Lee, 11. Leigh Montagna, 14. Jarryn Geary, 16. Jack Newnes,18. Billy Longer, 20. David Armitage, 21. Luke Delaney, 24. Sean Dempster, 25. Sam Fisher, 26. Tom Curren, 27. Josh Bruce, 28. Tim Membrey, 32. Paddy McCartin, 33. Hugh Goddard, 34. Nathan Wright, 35. Josh Saunders, 37. Jack Lonie, 38. Ahmed Saad, 39. Cameron Shenton, 40. Jack Sinclair, 41. Darren Minchington, 44. Maverick Weller, 45. Jason Holmes

PORT ADELAIDE v WEST COAST
Norwood Oval, Sunday, March 8, 4.10pm ACDT

PORT ADELAIDE
1. Travis Boak, 2. Kane Mitchell, 3. Jake Neade, 5. Matthew Broadbent, 7. Brad Ebert, 8. Hamish Hartlett, 9. Robbie Gray, 11. John Butcher, 13. Cameron O’Shea, 14. Paul Stewart, 15. Karl Amon, 16. Oliver Wines, 17. Tom Clurey, 18. Kane Cornes, 19. Matt White, 21. Jared Polec, 23. Matthew Lobbe, 24. Jarman Impey, 26. Andrew Moore,  27. Alipate Carlile, 28. Jay Schulz, 29. Jasper Pittard, 36. Jack Hombsch, 39. Justin Westhoff 40. Aaron Young, 41. Brendon AhChee, 42. Tom Jonas, 46. Sam Gray, 48. Nathan Krakouer

WEST COAST
1. Mitch Brown, 2. Mark LeCras, 3. Andrew Gaff, 4. Dom Sheed, 5. Brad Sheppard, 6. Elliot Yeo, 11. Matt Priddis, 12. Sharrod Wellingham, 13. Luke Shuey, 14. Liam Duggan, 15. Jamie Cripps, 17. Josh Kennedy, 18. Xavier Ellis, 20. Jeremy McGovern, 21. Brant Colledge, 24. Matt Rosa, 25. Shannon Hurn, 26. Sam Butler, 28. Tom Lamb, 29. Scott Lycett, 30. Jackson Nelson, 32. Simon Tunbridge, 35. Patrick McGinnity, 36. Fraser McInnes, 39. Malcolm Karpany, 42. Alex Waterman, 43. Rowen Powell, 44. Jamie Bennell, 47. Kane Lucas

NORTH MELBOURNE v HAWTHORN
Deakin Reserve (Shepperton), Sunday, March 8, 4.40pm AEDT

NORTH MELBOURNE
2. Brad McKenzie, 3. Ryan Bastinac, 5. Ben Jacobs, 7. Jack Ziebell, 9. Andrew Swallow, 10. Ben Cunnington, 11. Michael Firrito, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 13. Leigh Adams, 14. Trent Dumont, 16. Scott Thompson, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 20. Drew Petrie, 22. Todd Goldstein, 24. Sam Durdin, 25. Robbie Tarrant, 28. Robin Nahas, 29. Brent Harvey, 30. Jarrad Waite, 32. Mason Wood, 34. Jamie MacMillan, 35. Aaron Black, 36. Joel Tippett, 38. Majak Daw, 40. Kayne Turner, 42. Scott McMahon, 43. Sam Gibson, 50. Ben Brown

HAWTHORN
2. Jarryd Roughead, 3. Jordan Lewis, 4. Matt Suckling, 5. Sam Mitchell, 6. Josh Gibson, 7. Ben McEvoy, 8. Taylor Duryea, 9. Shaun Burgoyne, 10. Bradley Hill, 12. James Frawley, 13. Jonathan O’Rourke, 15. Luke Hodge, 16. Isaac Smith, 17. Brian Lake, 18. Jonathon Ceglar, 19. Jack Gunston, 20. David Hale, 21. James Sicily, 22. Luke Breust, 24. Ben Stratton, 26. Liam Shiels, 28. Paul Puopolo, 31. Angus Litherland, 33. Cyril Rioli, 35. Sam Grimley, 37. Jed Anderson, 39. Alex Woodward, 40. Billy Hartung, 41. Daniel Howe.