Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw are back for Collingwood’s qualifying final against West Coast at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
All Australian squad member Leon Davis also returns after missing one week with a hamstring injury, meaning the Magpies have recalled some serious experience and class.
Premiership captain Maxwell has not played since fracturing his thumb against St Kilda in round 21, while Shaw comes straight back in after completing his league-imposed eight-week suspension.
Ruckman Cameron Wood has been omitted from the side that lost to Geelong by 96 points in the final round, along with youngsters Ben Sinclair and Alex Fasolo.
Sinclair and Fasolo are emergencies along with Simon Buckley.
Maxwell, who was the joint recipient of the Bob Rose Trophy as the club’s best finals player during last year’s premiership campaign, has played 16 games this season but along the way has endured his share of injuries.
Internal bleeding suffered in a NAB Cup game against the Eagles kept the 2009 All Australian out until round three, and he also missed the round eight loss to the Cats with a foot problem.
Shaw played the first 14 games of the season and was arguably in career-best form, averaging career-highs for kicks per game (16.4) and tackles (3.6), before his suspension.
12-year veteran Davis has flourished in his first season playing in defence after missing the first two matches of 2011.
The 30-year-old has regularly negated some of the competition’s most dangerous forwards while racking up career-high averages for disposals (21.4) and kicks (15.7).
The match marks Magpie favourite Alan Didak’s 200th game. CLICK HERE for more on Didak’s milestone.
Collingwood is contesting its sixth-consecutive finals campaign, the longest active streak of any AFL club, after winning the McClelland Trophy for finishing on top of the ladder for the second-straight year.
2011 was also the first time in the club’s history it has won 20 home-and-away games, while the Magpies’ percentage (167.66) is the team’s highest since 1929.
West Coast finished the season in fourth position with 17 wins and five losses after being wooden-spoon recipients for finishing on the bottom of the ladder a year ago.
The Eagles have made two changes with Daniel Kerr and Will Schofield coming in for Ashley Smith (hamstring) and Patrick McGinnity.
The last time the clubs met was in round 10 this year, when the Magpies triumphed by 52 points at the MCG.
CLICK HERE for the full metro, regional and international TV and radio broadcast guide for the Magpies-Eagles clash.
AFL FIRST QUALIFYING FINAL 2011
COLLINGWOOD v WEST COAST
Saturday 10 September
MCG, 2:20
COLLINGWOOD
B: Alan Toovey, Ben Reid, Harry O’Brien
HB: Nick Maxwell, Chris Tarrant, Heath Shaw
C: Dayne Beams, Sharrod Wellingham, Tyson Goldsack
HF: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Alan Didak
F: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Luke Ball
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Andrew Krakouer
Inter: Leon Davis, Jarryd Blair, Chris Dawes, Dane Swan
Emg: Simon Buckley, Ben Sinclair, Alex Fasolo
In: Leon Davis, Heath Shaw, Nick Maxwell
Out: Cameron Wood, Ben Sinclair, Alex Fasolo (all omitted)
WEST COAST
B: Shannon Hurn, Darren Glass, Will Schofield
HB: Scott Selwood, Eric Mackenzie, Beau Waters
C: Luke Shuey, Matthew Priddis, Andrew Embley
HF: Mark LeCras, Josh Kennedy, Mark Nicoski
F: Jack Darling, Quinten Lynch, Nic Naitanui
Foll: Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr, Adam Selwood
Inter: Sam Butler, Chris Masten, Bradley Ebert, Andrew Gaff
Emg: Patrick McGinnity, Brad Sheppard, Ashton Hams
In: Daniel Kerr, Will Schofield
Out: Ashley Smith (hamstring), Patrick McGinnity
