ONE OF the games of this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships will be played without one of its brightest stars with star junior midfielder Jimmy Toumpas ruled out with a hip injury.

Toumpas, who suffered the injury when he copped a knock in last week's round-two win over the Northern Territory, has been touted as a possible top-five pick at this year's NAB AFL Draft.

In his only full game of the carnival, Toumpas gathered 34 possessions as the Croweaters demolished Tasmania by 144-points in round one.

Vic Metro, who won last year's division one title, could set up its hopes of going back-to-back with a win over SA, who will host the Victorians at Alberton Oval at 12pm local time.

South Australia sits second on the table behind Vic Country on percentage, but has been perhaps the most impressive side of the Championships so far. As well as the win over Tasmania, they defeated Northern Territory by 29 points last week. 

Forward Troy Menzel, brother of Geelong's Daniel, has been in superb form, booting 15 goals in the two games. AIS-AFL Academy graduates Brodie Grundy, a talented ruckman, and midfielder Ben Kennedy have also been in strong form.

Metro lost to Northern Territory in a major upset in round one, but hit back last week with a comfortable 96-point win over Tasmania. Discounting injured pair Jack Viney (jaw) and Lachie Plowman (elbow), Vic Metro has picked perhaps its strongest available side for this weekend's meeting.

Essendon's father-son draftee Joe Daniher will play his first game of the Championships, while coach Rohan Welsh will also have key midfielders Jonathan O'Rourke, Nathan Hrovat and Tom Temay at his disposal.

Daniher, an athletic key forward, is one of four possible father-son draftees in Metro's side.

Classy defender Luke McDonald, son of North Melbourne's Donald, is expected to play, while Lachlan Hunter (son of Western Bulldogs' Mark) and James Stewart (son of Collingwood's Craig) will also line-up in Metro's forward line.

AFL.com.au will have live scores and stats from both Under-18s games this weekend in our U18s Match Centre.

Callum Twomey is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.