HAWTHORN has regained big guns Lance Franklin and CyrilRioli for Friday night's preliminary final against Geelong, while the Cats haveopted for youth, bringing in Josh Caddy and Jordan Murdoch.
The weekend's other combatants, Fremantle and the SydneySwans, have made just three changes between them, with Michael Johnsonreturning to the Dockers line-up and the Swans opting for the speed of BenMcGlynn and Gary Rohan.
But it all starts with Friday's clash at the MCG.
The Hawks, who have lost their last 11 matches againstGeelong, have received a massive boost with Franklin and Rioli both ready toreturn.
Franklin hasn't played since copping a one-match suspensionfor a high bump on Swans defender Nick Malceski during their round 23 match atANZ Stadium.
Rioli has been sidelined by a left ankle injury sinceHawthorn's win over North Melbourne in round 22.
However he proved his fitness by training strongly thisweek.
Matt Spangher and Jed Anderson are the unlucky players tohave made way.
The Cats have brought in Caddy and Murdoch at the expense ofsuspended veteran Paul Chapman and out-of-form midfielder Taylor Hunt.
Caddy has recovered from the ankle injury that kept him outof Geelong's win over Port Adelaide last weekend.
Murdoch has been in blistering form in the VFL. He alsobooted three goals in the final quarter when the Cats last played Hawthorn in amatch-winning performance.
Geelong had already ruled out five-time All Australiandefender Corey Enright, who has been unable to recover from the medial ligamentstrain he suffered against Fremantle two weeks ago.
Johnson is the headline inclusion in Fremantle's team forits preliminary final against the Swans at Patersons Stadium on Saturdayevening.
The key defender, who was the only Dockers player to makethe All Australian team, missed the qualifying final win over Geelong with acalf injury.
Johnson has returned at the expense of Tom Sheridan, who hasbeen dropped.
The Swans were unable to consider injured duo Kurt Tippett(knee) and Tom Mitchell (ankle).
But McGlynn and Rohan are the lucky beneficiaries.
Hawthorn's emergencies are Spangher, Anderson and Kyle Cheney.
The Cats' emergencies are Hunt, Shane Kersten and Trent West. Kersten, who is yet to make his AFL debut, is expected to be brought into their team if key forward Tom Hawkins' back injury flares up.
Fremantle's emergencies are Sheridan, Jack Hannath and Alex Silvagni.
The Swans' emergencies are Brandon Jack, Jed Lamb and Lewis Roberts-Thomson.
Roberts-Thomson has not played in the AFL since injuring his knee in round four. He played in a NEAFL final last weekend.
All the ins and out for the preliminary finals:
Hawthorn v Geelong
MCG, Friday September 20, 7.50pm AEST
HAWTHORN
In: L.Franklin, C.Rioli
Out: M.Spangher, J.Anderson
GEELONG
In: J.Caddy, J.Murdoch
Out: P.Chapman (suspension), T.Hunt
Fremantle v Sydney Swans
Patersons Stadium, Saturday September 21, 5.45pm AWST
FREMANTLE
In: M.Johnson
Out: T.Sheridan
SYDNEY SWANS
In: B.McGlynn, G.Rohan
Out: K.Tippett (knee), T.Mitchell (ankle)
