Adelaide will welcome back rebounding defender Rory Laird for Sunday's clash with St Kilda at the Adelaide Oval. Laird has missed the past four weeks with a toe injury. He was close to a return last week, but was given another week to build his fitness on the training track. Veteran David Mackay is also available if he can prove his fitness after recovering from a hamstring injury that has seen him miss the past three games. Former captain Nathan Van Berlo had just six touches against the Giants and is likely to make way for Laird. Youngster Wayne Milera was also quiet with eight possessions, while Ricky Henderson was another who didn't have much of an impact. Adelaide's SANFL team had a bye last weekend for the South Australia versus VFL representative fixture. - Lee Gaskin
Captain Tom Rockliff has declared himself a certainty to play Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday after missing the past three weeks with a hamstring injury. Rockliff has played just five games this season and is a crucial addition to the Lions' midfield. After the club won its first NEAFL game of the season at the weekend, forward Josh Walker, who kicked five goals, small forward Josh Green and untried midfielder Jarrad Jansen should all come into consideration. - Michael Whiting
Tom Rockliff is a certain starter this week against Carlton. Picture: AFL Media
With skipper Marc Murphy ruled out and speedy forward Liam Sumner in doubt for Saturday’s game against the Lions, the Blues may be searching for two replacements. The Northern Blues had a bye last week, but Nick Graham and Jason Tutt have been performing well at that level and may be given an opportunity. Kristian Jaksch and Jack Silvagni also have claims to win promotion. - Howard Kotton
The Magpies have been hit by a raft of injuries – Taylor Adams (hamstring), Alex Fasolo (shoulder), Darcy Moore (collarbone), Alan Toovey (concussion) and Ben Crocker (ankle) – and will be forced to source replacements from a VFL side fresh from a bye for Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG. Exiled spearhead Travis Cloke is expected to be recalled, while others potentially in the selection frame include backmen Marley Williams, Nathan Brown and Jonathon Marsh, the versatile Tyson Goldsack, young runner Matthew Goodyear and experienced role player Brent Macaffer. - Ben Collins
The Bombers may be tempted to introduce top-10 pick Aaron Francis to the senior line-up after the marking defender impressed in the VFL over the weekend. Last year's No.6 pick took nine intercept marks and had 21 disposals in his second game back from a calf injury and he could come in for the injured Michael Hartley (hamstring). Mathew Stokes should be available after three weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Matthew Leuenberger's Achilles soreness will be monitored throughout the week. Jackson Merrett pressed his claims for senior selection with a best afield display in the VFL, gathering 33 touches and a goal against Richmond's VFL team. Will Hams (two goals) also continued his strong form. - Callum Twomey
The Dons can call on Mathew Stokes' experience for the trip to Freo. Picture: AFL Media 
Young midfielder Darcy Tucker made a compelling case for selection in the WAFL at the weekend, racking up 29 possessions and 10 inside 50s for Peel Thunder. He has spent the past four weeks in the twos and will surely get a chance after the Dockers' fourth-quarter shocker against St Kilda. He could be joined by hard-nosed midfielder Brady Grey, who was an emergency last week. Captain David Mundy is tipped to stay sidelined as he recovers from his second calf injury this season. There is experienced talent available to the Dockers in the WAFL, with ruckman Zac Clarke (19 possessions and 39 hit-outs) and Tendai Mzungu (27 and eight tackles) both impressive with Peel. Midfielder Anthony Morabito can't be far off, while key forward Michael Apeness looks like he needs more conditioning in the WAFL before making his anticipated return. - Nathan Schmook
Daniel Menzel will be available after being rested for the game against the Blues and the Cats are hopeful Lincoln McCarthy will return from a hip flexor strain, as his pace has been missed. Nathan Vardy looks a chance to play his second game for the season, particularly if Rhys Stanley is sidelined with a foot injury. Tom Ruggles had to withdraw late from the game against Carlton after struggling during the warm-up because of an eye infection. He could return against Greater Western Sydney and Jed Bews is another option if the Cats want to lock down on a GWS opponent. - Peter Ryan
After a horror run with injuries, the Suns will get a cast of first choice players back to play the Sydney Swans at Metricon Stadium on Saturday. Kade Kolodjashnij (abdominal), Sam Day (hip), Touk Miller (ankle), Matt Rosa (hamstring) and Callum Ah Chee (concussion) are all expected to play, while Alex Sexton (arm) and Trent McKenzie (ankle) will also undergo fitness tests in a bid to be available. Defender Rory Thompson will play in the NEAFL after seven weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury. - Michael Whiting
Matt Rosa has recovered from a hamstring injury for the Suns. Picture: AFL Media
Co-captain Phil Davis (hamstring) and Matt Buntine (concussion) could be welcome inclusions in defence this week, with Davis a likely opponent for Cats' power forward Tom Hawkins, and Buntine a possible match-up on speedy goalkicker Steven Motlop. Davis trained strongly last week but didn't quite come up for a clash with former side Adelaide, while Buntine missed the game after copping a head knock against the Western Bulldogs in round nine. Academy draftee Matthew Kennedy has been in brilliant form in the NEAFL and picked up another 24 possessions last week, with fellow academy gun Harrison Himmelberg was also in good touch across half back. In another positive sign for GWS, Will Hoskin-Elliott kicked two goals and got through his first game back from a quad strain. - Adam Curley
The Hawks will make at least one change for Saturday's MCG clash with Melbourne. Defender and 2014 premiership cult hero Matt Spangher lasted just five minutes against the Brisbane Lions in his first game of the year after suffering yet another leg injury. It remains unclear whether it is hamstring or knee related, but such injuries plagued him last year when he managed just four games and you have to question whether Hawthorn can roll the dice with his fitness any more. Kaiden Brand was dropped to make way for Spangher and should return at his expense. If the remaining Hawthorn players who traveled to the Gabba pulled up OK it is unlikely there will be any more changes for Saturday, particularly given that Box Hill did not play. The Hawks will be keen for Ryan Schoenmakers to play four quarters in the VFL this week so he can soon return at AFL level. - Ashley Browne
Melbourne will be without both Jack Viney (fractured hand/suspension) and Colin Garland (cheekbone) for Saturday's clash against Hawthorn. More changes could be on the horizon against the battle-hardened Hawks, with coach Paul Roos suggesting the team lacked experience against the Power. Viney's injury could open the door for Jack Trengove to play his first match since round two, 2014. Trengove has been in top form in the VFL and is ready to play after a horrendous run with injury. Young midfielder Clayton Oliver is likely to return from a corked thigh, having missed just one week. Forgotten forward Chris Dawes is a strong chance to return, after battling a calf complaint earlier in the season. Dawes would provide a much-needed marking target alongside Jesse Hogan up forward. Also in the frame is Lynden Dunn, who would add some steel to a leaky Demon defence. Jack Grimes will enter the selection frame after a solid month in the VFL. - Ben Guthrie
Werribee coming off the VFL bye will make it difficult for many players to push into the senior side, although Mason Wood should be in the frame after North's forward line only booted nine goals in the loss to the Sydney Swans. Wood played some impressive footy before a heavy fall against Essendon three games ago forced him out of the side with concussion. Todd Goldstein is almost certain to face the Tigers in Hobart, but Majak Daw is in the wings, while youngster Ryan Clarke is in the mix after some great form. - Travis King
Defender Jack Hombsch will be monitored to see if he's recovered from a hamstring injury in time for Sunday's game with Collingwood at the MCG. Matthew Broadbent will be available to come back into the side after he was a late scratching with gastro for last weekend's 45-point win against Melbourne in Alice Springs. Paul Stewart has been cleared of a concussion suffered in the victory over the Demons. It will likely be a choice between Alipate Carlile and Tom Clurey if Hombsch is ruled out, although Port Adelaide's SANFL team had the bye last weekend with the South Australia-VFL representative fixture. - Lee Gaskin
Alipate Carlile has played just two games so far this year. Picture: AFL Media
After two VFL matches in the past three weeks, half-back Reece Conca looks ready to play his first senior game for the season after recovering from a serious hamstring injury. The 23-year-old racked up 26 possessions, seven clearances and eight tackles in the VFL at the weekend and could be called on to play the backline role he trained for during the pre-season, bolstering the Tigers' run and ball-use off half-back. Troy Chaplin could also be injected into the back six after one match sidelined with a hip injury. The Tigers would be keen to bring him in to combat North Melbourne's three-pronged tall forward line. Youngster Connor Menadue missed his first match for the season last week and might be better for the rest and brought back in. Half-back Jason Castagna is performing consistently at the lower level and should get another chance with the Tigers soon. – Nathan Schmook
The Saints have a sparse injury list and after two straight wins, spots in the team will be hard to come by. If Jack Billings' ankle has recovered, expect him to come straight back in, even if his form dipped a little after a strong first month. Jack Sinclair would be nervous after just nine disposals against Fremantle. The harder task will be fitting Jimmy Webster in, who missed with an illness. Brodie Murdoch came in to play the Dockers but he was slightly better than Daniel McKenzie, who is more likely of the pair to be omitted. - Dinny Navaratnam
With veteran defender Ted Richards ruled out for the next fortnight with concussion symptoms, athletic forward Sam Reid might earn a recall after he played his first game of the year in the NEAFL last week. Reid kicked a goal and had 12 touches in the reserves, but more importantly got through 90 minutes of game time and pulled up well, and could be used in defence to give the Swans some height, as could Aliir Aliir, who has been good in the NEAFL. Small forward Tom Papley has missed two games with shin soreness and is likely to be tested later in the week, while Jack Hiscox, who was last week's held over emergency, James Rose and Brandon Jack should be looked at, but are unlikely to squeeze anyone out of John Longmire's in-form side this week. - Adam Curley
Tom Papley could add some more bite the Swans' forward line this week. Picture: AFL Media
It's always risky to mess with a winning line-up, and the Eagles having been victors for three straight games but there will be changes this week for a crunch game with the Western Bulldogs. Elliot Yeo will come back into the team and Adam Simpson has also confirmed Andrew Gaff will play, after the midfielder's bout of concussion caused by the infamous Tom Jonas hit. Defender Mitch Brown played for the first time in the pre-season so he will need to build his fitness before he contends for a spot in the senior side. Xavier Ellis and Tom Lamb picked up 16 and 18 disposals for East Perth respectively, but probably have not done enough to press for selection. - Dinny Navaratnam
After fortuitously escaping Sunday's poor showing against Collingwood with the four points and no injuries, the Bulldogs look set to go unchanged into Sunday's clash with West Coast at Etihad Stadium. First-year utility Bailey Williams was stiff to be omitted from the side that knocked over the Magpies and joins fellow midfielders Mitch Honeychurch, Bailey Dale and Lukas Webb as players ready to step into the senior side if need be. Key forward Tom Boyd is almost certain to resume through the VFL in his return from a shoulder injury he sustained in the round four win over Carlton. - Ryan Davidson
