PROLIFIC Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia will miss Sunday's blockbuster clash with Hawthorn at the MCG, with his return delayed by a sore left glute.
Prestia was in the mix to make his comeback from a hamstring issue which kept him out of the opening two rounds but has pulled up with a fresh setback, unrelated to his hamstring issue, and the Tigers are taking a cautious approach.
But the reigning premiers have made three changes to the side which lost to Adelaide in the Grand Final rematch, recalling Nick Vlastuin (concussion) and Sam Lloyd, with Jack Higgins set to debut.
Josh Caddy (suspension) plus youngsters Shai Bolton and Corey Ellis (both omitted) have made way.
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While Hawthorn has lost evergreen veteran Shaun Burgoyne (hamstring), the Hawks will welcome back key defender James Frawley after a week on the sidelines with a foot strain.
Premiership player Will Langford also returns from a broken hand while youngster Harry Morrison will make his second career appearance.
Ryan Schoenmakers (Achilles) and James Sicily (suspension) will miss for the Hawks.
Essendon has swung the axe and chopped three players for the meeting with under pressure Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
The Dons were underwhelming in last Saturday night's loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium and have left out Kyle Langford, Michael Hartley and Josh Begley.
In positive news, speedy forward Orazio Fantasia has been cleared for his first game of the season after minor knee surgery, coming into the line-up alongside David Myers and Mark Baguley.
The Bulldogs have been dismal in the opening two rounds and sit bottom of the ladder with an average of only 60.5 points scored.
But coach Luke Beveridge should have a more threatening forward line at his disposal in round three.
The Dogs welcome back big man Jack Redpath, who was forced to sit out last week's loss to West Coast after failing to properly comply with terms of a suspension, sharpshooter Tory Dickson and hard-nut Mitch Wallis.
Talls Jordan Roughead and Jackson Trengove are out of the side through injury, while Lukas Webb has been dropped and there is still no room for Tom Boyd.
West Coast will go in unchanged against Geelong after deciding against recalling Mark Hutchings for a tagging role on one of the Cats' midfield stars at Optus Stadium.
Geelong has also left out tough nut Scott Selwood and made only one change after going down to the Hawks by a point in an Easter Monday classic.
Developing tall forward Esava Ratugolea takes Mark O'Connor's spot and will offer Rhys Stanley ruck support against damaging Eagles duo Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett.
Sunday, April 8
Richmond v Hawthorn at the MCG, 1.10pm AEST
RICHMOND
In: N.Vlastuin, S.Lloyd, J.Higgins
Out: J.Caddy (suspended), S.Bolton, C.Ellis
New: Jack Higgins (Oakleigh U18)
HAWTHORN
In: J.Frawley, H.Morrison, W.Langford
Out: J.Sicily (suspension), R.Schoenmakers (Achilles), S.Burgoyne (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs v Essendon at Etihad Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: T.Dickson, J.Redpath, M.Wallis
Out: J.Trengove (shoulder), J.Roughead (concussion), L.Webb
ESSENDON
In: O.Fantasia, D.Myers, M.Baguley
Out: K.Langford, M.Hartley, J.Begley
West Coast v Geelong at Optus Stadium, 2.40m AWST
WEST COAST
No changes
GEELONG
In: E.Ratugolea
Out: M.O'Connor
