ADELAIDE
Rory Sloane is rated a slight chance to return from an eye injury to face North Melbourne on Sunday. Sloane would be a huge asset to the Crows' midfield, but won't train until Wednesday. Tom Lynch gave coach Brenton Sanderson a thumbs up after hyper-extending his knee last weekend and is expected to play. Ian Callinan was back to his best in the SANFL with a four-goal best on ground effort and Jason Porplyzia was influential for West Adelaide (21 disposals, one goal). Brodie Martin (25 touches) and Matthew Jaensch (21) were Sturt's leading possession getters in its 56-point loss, but Richard Tambling suffered another setback in the match, injuring his hip. - Harry Thring
BRISBANE LIONS
With Jonathan Brown's plantar fascia injury sidelining him, the door opens for another big man to come in against Richmond at the MCG on Saturday. The race will come down to Jordan Lisle, who has showed promise in earlier senior matches, and Stefan Martin, who was strong in the reserves last week after a long injury layoff. Brent Moloney is likely to return from his hamstring and calf problems, while Simon Black (groin) is inching closer but still likely to miss. - Michael Whiting
CARLTON
We've been saying it for several weeks now and we'll say it again: teenage midfielder Nick Graham is in contention to make his AFL debut. Graham collected 23 disposals, seven tackles and two goals in the Northern Blues' 13-point loss to Frankston on Sunday. Also in the mix are fellow first-year draftee Troy Menzel, tagger Aaron Joseph, defender Josh Bootmsa, inside midfielder Tom Bell, and pacy opportunist Dylan Buckley. - Ben Collins
COLLINGWOOD
With a good win in the seniors and no significant injuries, breaking into the team will be tough. Dale Thomas is expected to wait another week before returning via the VFL. He trained fully for the first time last Saturday morning. Alan Didak pressed for selection again with a strong VFL performance but he seems destined to have to wait for an opening. Darren Jolly needs another week of VFL although it will be tempting to bring him in against the hard-bodied Swans. Ben Hudson is available after escaping with a reprimand at the VFL tribunal on Tuesday night. Paul Seedsman continues to impress as he works on his game in the VFL, while Tim Broomhead is also in good form. - Peter Ryan
ESSENDON
Michael Hurley looks set to miss another week with his ankle injury but fellow forward Stewart Crameri should return this Sunday against West Coast after playing last week in the VFL. Ben Howlett is also a chance to push for selection after a strong showing for the club's VFL side, while Jason Winderlich could be back after a few weeks on the sidelines with what the club says was "soreness". Courtenay Dempsey will be out with his hamstring injury but Alex Browne could be brought in to the senior side to fill a role across half-back/midfield. - Callum Twomey
FREMANTLE
The Dockers have the opportunity to make some changes this week against GWS but Ross Lyon won't be taking the Giants lightly. Matthew Pavlich will return from suspension. Garrick Ibbotson was a late withdrawal against Carlton with a tight Achilles but should return this week. Clancee Pearce was subbed against Carlton with a calf problem and will be touch and go depending on the scans. David Mundy rolled an ankle against the Blues but Lyon believes he should be fine. Hayden Crozier and Viv Michie are again pushing for selection after good form in the WAFL. - Alex Malcolm
GEELONG
The Cats will regain big forward James Podsiadly from suspension for Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide at Simonds Stadium. Midfielder Allen Christensen is also likely to return after finally recovering from a hamstring problem. Emerging forward Shane Kersten is an outside chance to win a call-up after kicking 11 goals in the VFL in the past two weeks, while veteran backman Jared Rivers is also in the mix. Rivers has been a consistent contributor in the VFL since overcoming the knee injuries that sidelined him during the first half of the season. - Adam McNicol
Geelong's Allen Christensen tackles Casey's James Magner in the VFL last week. Picture: AFL Media
GOLD COAST
After missing last week's loss against West Coast with a knee injury, ruckman Tom Nicholls is expected to play Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night. Nicholls has a bursar behind the knee, which occasionally flares up and just needed to reduce the swelling. If he gets through the main training session on Wednesday, he will be good to go. Matt Shaw (shoulder) copped a knock last week but will play. The Suns reserves will be bolstered with plenty of experience this week with Michael Rischitelli (elbow), Karmichael Hunt (hamstring) and Matthew Warnock (foot) all returning after extended breaks. - Michael Whiting
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
For the first time in 12 months, Greater Western Sydney is faced with the enjoyable challenge of deciding whether to make any changes to a winning team following the breakthrough win over Melbourne. But there is plenty of pressure coming from the reserves, who recorded a 191-point win over Sydney Uni on the weekend to lock up a NEAFL finals berth. Vastly improved young ruckman Tom Downie was again named among the best and must be close to his AFL debut. Dom Tyson was also excellent, while Jono O'Rourke, Nathan Wilson, Shaun Edwards and Matt Buntine all put their hands up for a return to the senior side this week. - James Dampney
HAWTHORN
The Hawks withdrew No.1 ruckman Max Bailey 90 minutes before the bounce on Saturday, citing a corked hip. He should be available for Friday night's clash with St Kilda. Midfielder Liam Shiels, who has missed five matches with an injured ankle, will face a test later in the week. He might be more likely to resume in the VFL. Rising Star nominee Jed Anderson pressed his case for a first senior appearance since round three with a strong performance for Box Hill at the weekend, while Jonathan Simpkin, unlucky to be dropped last week, was also solid at VFL level. - Mark Macgugan
MELBOURNE
Chris Dawes faces a fitness test this week as he battles a calf injury. Sam Blease once again showed he was too good for the VFL with a 25-possession performance. Likewise the hard-working James Magner deserves a chance. Daniel Nicholson, Jordie McKenzie and James Strauss all gathered plenty of the ball in the VFL despite the team being beaten. Nicholson or McKenzie would be a chance to run with Gary Ablett this week. Mark Jamar and James Frawley are still out while it would be a surprise to see the Demons play three talls (Max Gawn, Jake Spencer and Jack Fitzpatrick) together again up north. - Peter Ryan
Melbourne forward Chris Dawes faces a fitness test this week. Picture: AFL Media
NORTH MELBOURNE
North's raft of key defensive options could cause some selection dilemmas this round. Nathan Grima (back) and Cameron Delaney (toe) missed the Roos' win over Geelong last Friday night, but could be fit to take on Adelaide this Sunday. As one of the mainstays in North's defence in recent seasons, you would expect Grima to return if fit, but Delaney might struggle to force elder brother Luke out of the side after his impressive performance against the Cats. It was a quiet weekend for North in the VFL, with Werribee having a bye and no Roo players named in North Ballarat's best in its loss to Coburg. Werribee-aligned Kieran Harper was given permission to play for North Ballarat's reserves team and found some form with 25 possessions and 12 tackles. - Nick Bowen
PORT ADELAIDE
Paul Stewart will miss up to six weeks with a broken wrist and his potential replacement, young defender Jack Hombsch, could miss six too after fracturing his cheekbone at training last week. Nathan Blee will come into heavy selection calculations with 24 possessions for North Adelaide and fellow defenders Campbell Heath (20 touches, six rebound 50s, one goal) and Lewis Stevenson (17 disposals and six marks) were also good. Aaron Young (21 disposals, eight clearances) and Ben Newton (20, six clearances) were both solid and Tom Logan was desperate for Glenelg, laying nine tackles to go with his 29 disposals. - Harry Thring
RICHMOND
Tall forward Tyrone Vickery is expected to return from his second serious concussion this season, likely at the expense of ruckman Orren Stephenson. Defender Ricky Petterd will need to pass a fitness if he is to return from a groin injury this week. Key defender Dylan Grimes is considered available, but is more likely to spend a third week in the VFL to build form and fitness after 10 weeks sidelined with a serious foot injury. Robin Nahas (30 possessions) continued a strong run of form in the VFL, while Aaron Edwards (three goals and eight marks) pushed his case with Coburg. - Nathan Schmook
ST KILDA
Rhys Stanley won't play again this season after having surgery to repair his fractured collarbone. Tom Ledger had 39 disposals in the VFL while Jason Blake had 23 and Adam Schneider 10 in his third game back from a hamstring. Trent Dennis-Lane was replaced as an emergency by Ahmed Saad because of gastro, which also affected Stanley, Ben McEvoy and emergency Seb Ross, as well as Jack Newnes, who was then a late withdrawal for Saad. They are expected to be over the bug this week. Beau Maister (hamstring), Justin Koschitzke (calf) and Sam Gilbert (knee) are still recovering from injuries and aren'texpected to be available. - Jennifer Phelan
SYDNEY SWANS
Premiership defender Rhyce Shaw made a solid return in Sunday's win over the Western Bulldogs after four months on the sidelines and will be hoping to build his fitness and form this week. None of the club's other long-term injured, including Adam Goodes, Lewis Jetta or Sam Reid, are close to a comeback yet, meaning the youngsters who have helped establish a six-game winning streak will continue to hold their places. There were some strong performances in the reserves, including a six-goal haul by Mitch Morton, just days after announcing his impending retirement at year's end. Tony Armstrong, Xavier Richards and youngster Jake Lloyd were other stand-outs in the seconds. - James Dampney
WEST COAST
The Eagles could have up to nine players available to return and no injury concerns with the incumbent 22, which is a rare blessing for John Worsfold this week. Mark LeCras (foot), Chris Masten (ankle), Matt Priddis (quad), and Jacob Brennan (calf) are all listed as chances. Priddis would be the only one who is a realistic chance. Daniel Kerr had 35 touches and three goals in the WAFL and if he pulls up well should be a certainty. Patrick McGinnity, Matt Rosa, Adam Selwood and Brad Dick all played well in the WAFL on Saturday and all will come into calculation. - Alex Malcolm
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Matthew Boyd is a chance to return after missing the loss to the Sydney Swans with calf soreness. Liam Jones is also a chance to play, if he can prove he's over an ankle injury. Nick Lower is in a similar boat, after recovering from concussion. Christian Howard and Mark Austin were named as emergencies last week, and will continue to push their cases for selection. Patrick Veszpremi kicked four goals in Williamstown's VFL clash against Collingwood, and may be considered, but the senior lineup competed well against the Swans, and Brendan McCartney may be reluctant to tamper with the formula. - Jacqui Reed
