The trio comes into the side at the expense of defender Thomas Murphy (injured finger), Travis Tuck (jarred knee) and lively forward Cameron Stokes, omitted.
Croad, perched on 203 senior matches, has missed the past month with an injured wrist.
The 28-year-old managed just the single possession before damaging his wrist when he fell awkwardly in the first round triumph over Melbourne at the MCG.
The experienced campaigner is a welcome addition to the Hawks defence, forced to contend with the strength and height of Brisbane forwards Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.
Mitchell, a late withdrawal from last week’s match against Adelaide with a calf complaint, resumes in his usual spot in the middle while Lewis has been named on the interchange after a week’s penance for his love tap on North Melbourne’s Daniel Pratt.
Ruckman Bob Campbell, Tim Clarke and Xavier Ellis join Lewis on the bench, with Ben McGlynn, Jarryd Morton and Stokes picked as emergencies.
Mighty mouse McGlynn impressed selectors with his best on field 25-possession performance for Box Hill Hawks against Casey Scorpions last week.
McGlynn played 21 games and booted 15 goals last year before an adductor muscle and groin injury forced him to miss round 22 and the Hawks’ epic elimination final against Adelaide.
He was an emergency for the semi-final against North.
The unbeaten Hawks will be looking for its first win at the Gabba in six outings, departing Melbourne on Friday morning.
Head to head: Brisbane 15, Hawthorn 20, drawn 0
Last time: Hawthorn 17.13 (115) d Brisbane 13.13 (91), round 19, 2007, MCG
Betting: TABSportsbet: Brisbane $2.15, Hawthorn $1.65
Team
B: Brown, Gilham, Guerra
HB: Ladson, Croad, Birchall
C: Young, Mitchell, Bateman
HF: Crawford, Franklin, Osborne
F: Rioli, Roughead, Williams
Foll: Taylor, Sewell, Hodge
I/C: Campbell, Clarke, Ellis, Lewis
EMG: McGlynn, Morton, Stokes
In: Croad, Lewis, Mitchell
Out: Murphy (finger), Tuck (jarred knee), Stokes (omitted)
