• A quick guide to the prelims
• Four burning questions ahead of this weekend
• Around the state leagues: how your seconds performed
• The injury list: Your club's sidelined players

The Dockers' mix is intriguing this week. Luke McPharlin is the main concern. He hasn't been ruled out of a return but it seems unlikely he will recover from his calf injury in time. Ryan Crowley also seems unlikely for a shock recall but Ross Lyon hasn't ruled him out. The most likely men to come into calculation are Matt Taberner and Jon Griffin. Taberner was selected for the qualifying final but was withdrawn on game day for fear of foul weather. He kicked five goals in the WAFL the following day to push his case and Lyon has said he is a strong chance to play. Griffin was the preferred second ruckman ahead of Zac Clarke late in the year before an untimely hamstring injury in round 22 granted Clarke another opportunity. Griffin has recovered and is available. Alex Silvagni is also available after serving a four-match suspension but it is unlikely he would be called up. - Alex Malcolm

All eyes will be on Jack Gunston later this week as he undergoes a fitness test on his sore ankle. The star forward was "pretty confident" of being right to face Fremantle on Friday night, but failed to train with his teammates on Tuesday morning. He has to pass running, jumping and twisting exercises before he's cleared to play. Gunston is almost certain to replace Ryan Schoenmakers, if he returns. Veteran full-back Brian Lake (stomach) appears set to be available to face the Dockers after moving freely at training on Tuesday. Meanwhile, dumped midfielder Will Langford pressed his claims for a recall after kicking the match-sealing goal that saw Box Hill advance to a third-straight VFL Grand Final. Langford was outstanding in the final term, key defender Matt Spangher took nine marks, while Jonathan Simpkin (34 disposals) and Brendan Whitecross (32) racked up plenty of the ball. Young ruckman Jonathon Ceglar was held out of the VFL preliminary final due to a bout of gastro, but trained on Tuesday and appears set to be available this weekend, most likely as an emergency for the senior side.  - Travis King

Will Ryan Schoenmakers be replaced by Jack Gunston for the prelim? Picture: AFL Media

The Roos will be sweating on the fitness of Drew Petrie and Robbie Tarrant this week. Petrie suffered a knock to his right knee in a marking contest late in the first term of North's semi-final victory over the Sydney Swans last Saturday night. The veteran left the ground for treatment but returned shortly after and played out the game, despite copping a few more knocks. The Roos are confident Petrie suffered no more than a corked knee and will be fit to play alongside fellow talls Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown against the Eagles' undermanned backline. Tarrant, however, appears in more doubt after tweaking his groin in the warm-up last Saturday night. The 26-year-old was a late withdrawal against the Swans and moved gingerly at the Roos' recovery session the next day before training lightly on Monday. North would dearly love to regain the 196cm defender this week, given the Eagles' attack will have the marking power of Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and, when they're resting from ruck duties, Nic Naitanui and Callum Sinclair. Luke McDonald got the late call-up to replace Tarrant against the Swans and, despite playing a solid game in defence, looms as the player most likely to make way for the key defender if he proves his fitness. Small forward Robbie Nahas was named in North's 22 to take on the Swans but was replaced by Kayne Turner 90 minutes before the game. Nahas was not replaced because of injury so will be in contention for selection this week. Midfielder star Daniel Wells continues to train in the hope of making a senior return, but is highly unlikely to come back against the Eagles. - Nick Bowen

North is sweating on the fitness of key defender Robbie Tarrant. Picture: AFL Media

The Eagles are as healthy as they have been all year and as a result the mix appears relatively straightforward. Matt Priddis (quad) and Chris Masten (hamstring) are both set to return after missing the qualifying final. Both men trained well on Monday. Scott Selwood and Patrick McGinnity appear the most likely to make way on a last-in, first-out basis. Luke Shuey had a foot issue last week but trained without any problems on Monday. Jeremy McGovern is still carrying a shoulder problem and has been carefully managed at training but there is no doubt about his availability. Will Schofield was subbed out of the qualifying final as a precaution to protect his troubled hamstring but he is fully fit. - Alex Malcolm