LUKE Hodge, Brent Prismall, Max Hudghton and Robert Murphy are just some of the leading players returning from injury in the teams for round 11 announced on Thursday.
Richmond has been forced to make three changes to the side that won in the west last week.
Ex-Bulldog Nathan Brown (groin) won’t get to share in coach Terry Wallace’s final game at the helm as his interrupted year continues, while Matt White (hamstring) and Robin Nahas (quad) have also fallen victim to the injury curse.
However, one former Bulldog will join Wallace in his last hurrah, with Jordan McMahon coming in to play the pair’s former club.
Tough nut Alex Rance returns after recovering from his sickening clash with Troy Selwood a month ago, while Mark Coughlan also earns a recall and will provide some grunt.
The Western Bulldogs have made just one change to the team that comfortably beat the Sydney Swans, replacing the suspended Scott Welsh with Murphy.
Murphy has missed two matches with a strained hamstring.
Dean Laidley has swung the axe at North Melbourne to make four unforced changes ahead of the clash with the unbeaten Saints.
Daniel Harris, Aaron Edwards, Todd Goldstein and Levi Greenwood all depart the side defeated by the Lions while Sam Power, Matt Campbell, Nathan Grima and Daniel Pratt make their returns.
St Kilda has brought in Hudghton for his first game of the season after the veteran struggled with a calf injury in the early going. Young ruckman Ben McEvoy also comes in with the duo replacing Michael Gardiner (suspended) and Sam Gilbert (ankle).
The Brisbane Lions have made just the one change as they look to cement their spot in the top four with a win against the Blues; Travis Johnstone earning a recall after a week in the doghouse.
The former Demon was dropped for last week's match against the Roos after some uneven performances according to coach Michael Voss, but one week on the sidelines appears to have sent the appropriate message.
Youngster Matt Austin makes way.
Carlton regains Andrew Carrazzo, Shaun Grigg and Heath Scotland for the trip to the Gabba.
All three have had preparations interrupted by injury, but have proved their fitness at the expense of Jordan Russell, Mitch Robinson and Mark Austin who drop back to the emergency list.
Port Adelaide loses Chad Cornes to a knee injury along with Matt Thomas (knee) and Nathan Krakouer (omitted) for Saturday night's clash with Fremantle.
Marlon Motlop, Josh Carr and Toby Thurstans break back into the side.
Fremantle will unveil another two players against the Power after losing Des Headland (quad), Michael Johnson (ankle), Luke McPharlin (hip) and Antoni Grover (calf) from the side narrowly defeated by Richmond.
Hayden Ballantyne and Clancee Pearce are the two new boys while Kepler Bradley and Adam Campbell will also make the trip to Adelaide.
Prismall's first outing in red and black is a boon for an Essendon side further lifted by the returns of Kyle Reimers and Courtenay Dempsey.
Darcy Daniher, Scott Lucas and Tyson Slattery have been added to a seven-man bench in the squad that will host the Crows at Docklands on Sunday.
Adelaide has added Brent Reilly, James Sellar and Jared Petrenko to an extended bench after emerging from last week's dramatic win over the reigning premier with no injury concerns.
Despite coach Alastair Clarkson saying last week he might be missing until after the mid-season break, Hawthorn has brought back Norm Smith Medallist Hodge for Sunday’s crucial round 11 clash with the Sydney Swans.
The star Hawk has missed three matches with an adductor injury, but he has obviously made steady progress this week.
He is one of three additions to the side that got beaten by the Crows, with Brent Renouf and Travis Tuck also in line for recalls.
The Sydney Swans have dropped Luke Ablett from the side that lost to the Bulldogs.
Ed Barlow, Craig Bird, Canadian Mike Pyke and Kristin Thornton are all candidates to force their way into the final 22.
West Coast has copped another blow on the eve of its match with powerhouse Geelong, losing experienced defender David Wirrpanda to a hamstring injury.
The Eagles will already be without its best midfielder, Daniel Kerr (suspension), for Sunday’s clash at Subiaco but will now field one of their youngest teams of the year against the rampaging Cats.
Chad Fletcher, Mark Seaby, Tim Houlihan, Matt Spangher and the recovering Matt Priddis are all chances to come into the line-up.
Despite not training on Thursday, superstar Gary Ablett has been named by Geelong which will also look to recall Paul Chapman (finger) and Mathew Stokes (suspension).
However the Cats have lost two defenders, with neither skipper Tom Harley (hamstring) nor Harry Taylor (ankle) making the trip west. Joel Corey is also a doubtful starter with a foot injury.
All eyes will be on No.1 draft pick Jack Watts when Melbourne hosts Collingwood at the MCG on Monday, with the Demons selecting the schoolboy as first revealed on melbournefc.com.au earlier this week.
Dean Bailey has also looked for some extra firepower in the form of the unpredictable Russell Robertson and Michael Newton, however, one big name has made way for the trio of forwards.
Centre-half forward Brad Miller is a surprise omission from the Demons line-up; the target making way along with fellow big man Stefan Martin.
Lynden Dunn and Kyle Cheney are also in the mix to return for Melbourne, with the coach to finalise his 22 on Saturday afternoon.
Collingwood could bolster its attack with Paul Medhurst and Travis Cloke among the inclusions to a 25-man squad.
Ben Reid has also been added to the side that easily accounted for Port Adelaide last week.
Cloke, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, has been named at centre-half forward and appears more likely to play than Medhurst, who must prove his fitness as he battles to overcome an ankle injury that has seen him miss a month.
