ADELAIDE
Star midfielder Richard Douglas could return to the senior line-up this week having spent the past fortnight on the sidelines post-surgery. Douglas had his appendix removed but has started running and will aim to prove his fitness on Wednesday. Given the club's jaw-dropping 112-point win over Essendon at the weekend, any player making way for the 2010 club champion would be considered unlucky. Sam Kerridge (31 possessions) and Matt Wright (28 disposals) both managed 10 clearances in the SANFL, while Mitch Grigg had 27 touches and kicked two goals. – Harry Thring
BRISBANE LIONS
With their first victory in three months and no new injuries to date, it might be a rare chance for the Lions to play an unchanged team against Adelaide on Saturday night. If Justin Leppitsch decides to give one or two of his younger players a rest, Rohan Bewick and Hugh Beasley were excellent in the NEAFL and would come into consideration. - Michael Whiting
CARLTON
Despite the Blues being thrashed by the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba last Saturday and dropping to the bottom of the ladder, interim coach John Barker is running out of options as the season draws to a close. The Northern Blues were also badly beaten by Sandringham in the VFL last Sunday. Brad Walsh was impressive again, finishing the game with 26 disposals. Jason Tutt had 23. - Howard Kotton
COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies will be forced to make at least one change to the side that perhaps should have beaten the Sydney Swans at the SCG, with key defender Nathan Brown receiving a one-match suspension. If the versatile Tyson Goldsack is fit, he will likely force his way back into the line-up for the clash with Richmond at the MCG on Saturday. Another defensive option is youngster Matt Scharenberg, who had 21 touches and nine marks in the VFL side's eight-point loss to North Ballarat. Midfielders Patrick Karnezis (28 touches and two goals) and Ben Kennedy (27, 12 clearances and two goals) were also prominent in the VFL, as was ruckman Jarrod Witts, while key forward Jesse White tallied 3.4. Runners Brayden Maynard, Paul Seedsman and Sam Dwyer could also be in contention.- Ben Collins
ESSENDON
Expect at least a handful of changes to the Essendon team that was belted by Adelaide last weekend. With injury possibly ruling out senior ruckman Jonathan Giles, Shaun McKernan is a chance to return to the team after 22 disposals and a goal at VFL level. Nick O’Brien had 37 touches and nine clearances in the club’s VFL win so would be a chance to come back into the team, while Alex Browne and Patrick Ambrose may return for the Bombers’ clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. James Hird said last week the club expected Michael Hurley to be available after a few weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury. - Callum Twomey
FREMANTLE
The Dockers will lose key defender Alex Silvagni through suspension but they have Luke McPharlin and Zac Dawson ready and available. Ross Lyon has indicated that McPharlin is a given to return unless the Dockers decide to give him another week's rest to ensure his calf tightness does not worsen. Dawson's chances will depend on what kind of defensive structure the Dockers opt for. Lyon also flagged other changes were possible on form. Connor Blakely was held over as the emergency last Sunday and remains very close to a debut. Lachie Weller went back to Peel and gathered 21 touches while Ed Langdon had another 25 possessions in the WAFL. Brady Grey had 29 disposals and laid 10 tackles for Peel. – Alex Malcolm
GEELONG CATS
Daniel Menzel could play his first senior game since the 2011 qualifying final after another strong performance in the VFL. The 23-year-old has reminded the Cats of his talent this week and coach Chris Scott is weighing up whether to bring him into the senior side this week. Tom Lonergan will be fine after missing the game against the Hawks due to illness while midfielder Mitch Duncan is touch and go after a kick to the calf against the Sydney Swans flared up. The Cats will also look to Jed Bews against the Saints after he was the carry-over emergency on Saturday and might consider Shane Kersten to play forward after he missed with a toe injury. - Peter Ryan
GOLD COAST SUNS
The medical staff will be working overtime this week as a number of Suns race the clock to be fit for Saturday's match against Essendon at Metricon Stadium. Charlie Dixon (ankle) and Jack Martin (concussion) are chances to play, while ruckman Tom Nicholls (knee) hasn't been ruled out yet, but appears less likely. If Nicholls misses out, Zac Smith would come in, while key defender Rory Thompson is also due to return from an ankle injury. - Michael Whiting
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
The Giants will be without co-captain Phil Davis for the Sydney derby after he strained a hamstring against Port Adelaide, with versatile big man Adam Tomlinson a likely replacement. Midfielder Stephen Coniglio (concussion) will return to take on the Swans and Adam Treloar (groin) could also be back for the huge game. The Giants' reserves had the bye last week so coach Leon Cameron has plenty of fresh options should he want to make some changes. Youngsters Jake Barrett and Paul Ahern have been consistent performers in the NEAFL as they push for senior debuts, while running defenders Adam Kennedy and Curtly Hampton, plus ruckman Tom Downie, are also in the mix. - Adam Curley
HAWTHORN
With no fresh injuries from Saturday night's win over Geelong, it's difficult to envisage many changes to the line-up against Port Adelaide. Jonathon Ceglar (back spasms) is likely to come back into the mix after missing a week. First-year utility Daniel Howe was solid in his second senior outing, however there are a host of Hawks lining up for his spot. Will Langford resumed in the VFL after a knee injury, while Taylor Duryea, Ryan Schoenmakers, Jonathan Simpkin, Jed Anderson and Angus Litherland are jockeying on the fringes of the best 22. - Travis King
MELBOURNE
Melbourne was humiliated by the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, so you can expect coach Paul Roos to make significant changes at the selection table. Christian Salem, who was a late withdrawal from the game against the Dogs because of illness, will almost certainly come back into the team, while Dom Tyson (hamstring) faces a fitness test later in the week. If picked, Salem will play his first senior game since injuring his hamstring in round seven. Important small defender Neville Jetta is in doubt with a neck injury he suffered against the Dogs. Versatile big man Jack Fitzpatrick will come under consideration after booting four goals for Casey – one of them a three-bounce effort on the run – at the weekend, with Billy Stretch another to impress. Jay Kennedy-Harris (17 disposals and seven tackles) and Ben Newton (25 touches) are others that caught the eye. Rookie Mitch White continues to perform solidly as he presses his claim for a senior opportunity. – Ben Guthrie
NORTH MELBOURNE
North's biggest priority this week will be filling the considerable midfield hole created by Jack Ziebell's suspension. Ryan Bastinac would be a readymade replacement and put his hand up for a recall with 43 possessions in North Ballarat's win over Collingwood's VFL team last Saturday. The Roos, however, might opt to go for a more like-for-like replacement in Trent Dumont. Like Ziebell, Dumont is a hardnosed inside on-baller and the second-year Roo also impressed for the Roosters on the weekend with 35 possessions. Brad McKenzie will also be considered after he continued his strong recent VFL form with 29 possessions in the same game. Jamie Macmillan is edging closer to a return after missing the past four weeks with a hamstring injury, but the utility will have to prove his fitness at training this week. Werribee had a bye in the VFL last weekend but forwards Mason Wood and Majak Daw remain firmly in the selection mix. - Nick Bowen
PORT ADELAIDE
Coach Ken Hinkley will have to decide whether to swap John Butcher with Jay Schulz this week – a seemingly simple decision made difficult by Butcher's solid contribution against GWS. Schulz appeared proppy with a sore back after the game but is expected to be available for selection. Matthew Lobbe did everything he could to push back into the senior side, winning 62 hit-outs in the SANFL. The ruckman also won 19 possessions and kicked a goal, while Aaron Young was strong after his senior omission with 30 possessions, 11 clearances and two goals. As expected, full back Alipate Carlile has been ruled out for the year with his hip injuries. – Harry Thring
RICHMOND
Important Tiger Shane Edwards should be ready to return from a fractured leg after five matches on the sidelines. Edwards, who was close to selection in round 20, has been increasing his running load and skills work at training and could be an important inclusion against Collingwood on Saturday. In the VFL, Matt Dea (27 possessions against Coburg) is the most likely to push up to the top level, while Jason Castagna (33 and seven clearances) was excellent. Chris Knights returned from a quad injury but will need more VFL time before returning ahead of finals. Young forward Liam McBean, who has been close to selection in recent weeks, was held goalless in the VFL. – Nathan Schmook
ST KILDA
Could this be the week Jason Holmes becomes the first American to play an AFL game? The Saints can elevate him, with Tom Lee and Jack Billings on the long-term injury list and Alan Richardson said again this week Holmes is well in the mix for promotion. However, where he would fit into the team alongside Billy Longer and Tom Hickey? Shane Savage (hip) missed last week and Luke Dunstan (calf) has been out for two but both are expected to be available to face Geelong. Paddy McCartin is another who could come back into the selection frame after he missed Saturday's clash with North Melbourne with soreness while Daniel McKenzie continues to be assessed following his concussion against Fremantle. In the VFL, Tim Membrey kicked five goals at the weekend and Farren Ray had 33 disposals. - Jennifer Phelan
SYDNEY SWANS
It's another big week on the injury front at the Swans, who have lost midfield gun Luke Parker to a broken leg. The club is hopeful he can make a miracle recovery to be a part of the finals campaign but it's a massive longshot. Lance Franklin (back) and Ben McGlynn (hamstring) will look to prove their fitness ahead of the Sydney derby with both needing to step up their training to test themselves before Saturday. Gary Rohan (knee) and Isaac Heeney (soreness) will have light weeks on the track but should be fine to take on GWS at Spotless Stadium. Dan Robinson would have been a chance to replace Parker but he went down with a shoulder injury in the reserves last week. Zak Jones and Dean Towers starred in the NEAFL curtain-raiser on Friday night to keep their names in front of the selectors. - Adam Curley
WEST COAST EAGLES
The Eagles have some decisions to make at the selection table this week. They look set to regain Mark LeCras and Nic Naitanui but will likely lose Scott Lycett to a knee injury. Will Schofield is also likely to miss with a hamstring problem. Jeremy McGovern won't be available, so Tom Barrass is in the frame for a recall although the Eagles played a smaller defence against the Dockers with some success, and the Bulldogs don't possess an overly tall forward line. Jackson Nelson could some back into to contention after 16 touches, seven marks and a goal for East Perth. Brant Colledge and Kane Lucas remain in the mix depending on the outcome of Chris Masten's Tribunal case. - Alex Malcolm
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Luke Beveridge will have a selection headache ahead of Sunday's top-four showdown against West Coast with several key players returning from injury. Dashing defender Jason Johannisen is a strong chance to resume from a hamstring complaint while key defenders Jordan Roughead (foot) and Fletcher Roberts (ankle) got through a game in the VFL. Michael Talia, Sam Darley and Caleb Daniel could be the unlucky ones to make way. Key forward Tom Boyd impressed with five goals and midfielders Mitch Honeychurch (23 possessions and two goals), Bailey Dale (16 possessions and a goal) and Nathan Hrovat (16 possessions) all made solid contributions in Footscray's win over Williamstown. – Ryan Davidson
