Port Adelaide have received a double boost for Sunday's must-win AFL clash with the Western Bulldogs in the form of All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder and key defender Tom Jonas.
Getting the stars back from injury ahead of schedule is desperately needed as the Power look to rebound from consecutive losses that have affected their top-four chances.
Power coach Ken Hinkley floated during the week that Ryder (hip) and Jonas (knee) were more likely for the round 20 Showdown with the Crows.
Small forward Steven Motlop will also make the trip to Ballarat after he was a late withdrawal due to illness for last week's loss against Greater Western Sydney.
The Bulldogs get premiership star Marcus Bontempelli back from appendix surgery but lose Luke Dahlhaus, Billy Gower (both ankle) and Tom Boyd (back).
Collingwood have recalled versatile tall Darcy Moore for Saturday's MCG blockbuster with Richmond as ace forward Jordan De Goey misses with a leg injury.
Small forward Jamie Elliott will spend at least another week in the VFL as he battles to play his first AFL game of the season.
Hawthorn losing defender Daniel Howe to a season-ending suspension has been off-set by veteran Shaun Burgoyne's return from a four-game hamstring injury layoff.
Burgoyne and Jaeger O'Meara, who missed last week's win against Carlton, headline the Hawks' inclusions for their Sunday trip to Optus Stadium to play Fremantle.
The Dockers are being cautious with veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands but have brought Stephen Hill, Andrew Brayshaw and Hayden Ballantyne into their extended squad.
Essendon have picked young gun Aaron Francis for his first game of the season against Sydney on Friday night, while Jake Stringer (calf) is also back.
Brisbane's trip to Geelong will be made less daunting by having star veteran Luke Hodge and key defender Harris Andrews.
Andrews hasn't played since suffering a severe concussion against GWS in round 14 while Hodge has missed the Lions' past two games with a calf issue.
"We did some match practice this morning where he had to fly back with the flight and go for his marks and things like that and he didn't seem to be any different than the normal Harris Andrews," Lions coach Chris Fagan said.
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has swung the axe for the struggling Blues, dropping Levi Casboult, Nick Graham and Matthew Shaw for their winnable game against Gold Coast.
The Blues welcome back Dale Thomas, Darcy Lang, Jed Lamb and Sam Rowe for the trip to Metricon Stadium, while the Suns have included Brayden Fiorini, David Swallow and Jack Bowes
