Defenders Matthew Jaensch (knee) and Brodie Smith (concussion) will be missing from the Crows' side that faces Greater Western Sydney on Sunday. Smith will be rested after a heavy clash with St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt, while Jaensch will miss a year of footy after rupturing his ACL. The two vacated spots in the 22 will likely be taken by Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Josh Jenkins, who are set to return from hamstring and hip injuries. Sam Kerridge (23 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) is also a chance to gain senior selection after another sound SANFL outing, while James Podsiadly and Riley Knight both made successful returns from injury. – Harry Thring 

Following the upset 37-point win over Port Adelaide, coach Justin Leppitsch won't be making many changes to take on Essendon on Sunday. Claye Beams (knee) was a late withdrawal and is likely to return, while Liam Dawson kicked four goals in the NEAFL and is knocking on the door of making a senior debut. Mainstays Daniel Merrett (hamstring) and Pearce Hanley (hip) are still a little while from returning. – Michael Whiting 

Sitting on the bottom of the ladder and desperate for a win after three consecutive losses, Carlton hopes to regain Lachie Henderson, Kade Simpson, Andrew Walker and Patrick Cripps for its Friday night encounter against Geelong. Henderson has been out for the past two matches with a hamstring problem, Simpson has missed two with a calf injury, Walker missed last Saturday’s game against GWS with a knee injury and Cripps was a late withdrawal against the Giants with calf tightness and bleeding. The Blues may also be boosted by the return of ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, who had 10 disposals, four marks and 18 hit-outs in his second VFL game last Saturday since returning from injury. Kreuzer has not played a senior game since round one, 2014, having battled foot injuries. Nick Graham was the best for the Northern Blues against North Ballarat, finishing with 18 disposals (10 contested), six clearances and one goaland should be in line for promotion again. - Howard Kotton 

Star midfielder Steele Sidebottom (thumb) and defender Jackson Ramsay (shin) could return to the Magpies line-up for the trip to the Gold Coast if they can pass fitness tests. The Pies, who might be forced to replace backman Alan Toovey (knee), have several players pushing for selection after showing good form in the club's three-point win over Richmond at Punt Road Oval in the VFL on Sunday. Alex Fasolo was prominent in the first half before being sent to the MCG as an emergency for the AFL clash. Sam Dwyer was named the Pies' best player after having 21 quality touches, while Ben Kennedy had 22 disposals and five clearances, following on from a 29-possession game the previous week. Corey Gault remains a forward/ruck option, and defenders Tony Armstrong and Jonathon Marsh performed strongly. Prized 2013 draftee Matt Scharenberg was among Collingwood's best but is likely to require a few more solid outings before he makes his AFL debut. - Ben Collins

The Bombers may have senior pair Adam Cooney and Paul Chapman available after taking a cautious approach with their recovery from respective leg injuries. The club also expects Jake Carlisle to be available after missing last week with a neck injury suffered at training. There were a couple of standouts for the Bombers at VFL level, where speedy youngster Orazio Fantasia played well and first-year midfielder/half-forward Jayden Laverde showed some exciting signs. James Gwilt will be ready to step back into the senior line-up if called upon, while returning key position player Tayte Pears kicked three goals as he builds up his match conditioning after a long layoff with injury. – Callum Twomey

The Dockers should regain Luke McPharlin this week after missing the past two weeks with calf tightness. The Dockers remain reasonably healthy. Alex Pearce would be the logical player to make way but he has played well in his first two matches. Matt de Boer was squeezed out after playing as the sub in four of the first six games but travelled as the emergency and didn't play in the WAFL. Peel Thunder had a big win and plenty of players are making a case for selection. Tendai Mzungu was best afield with 29 touches, nine tackles and two goals. Connor Blakely had 28 touches and kicked a goal. Ross Lyon was very happy with Hayden Crozier's 12 tackles to go with his 19 possessions. Ed Langdon (25 disposals) and Lachie Weller (24) also performed well. – Alex Malcolm

Mitch Duncan will miss after breaking his foot but Tom Hawkins is expected to play after being a late withdrawal from the game against the Sydney Swans with tightness in the glute. James Kelly is a rough chance to return earlier than originally forecast after having a ruptured testicle operated on following the round five clash against Richmond. Kelly trained strongly last week. Andrew Mackie is a chance to come straight back into the senior side. Shane Kersten and Josh Walker are both under pressure to retain their spots with Kersten not making a significant impact in his three games. George Horlin-Smith battled hard in the VFL. He is in and out of the side but must be some chance against Carlton while Nakia Cockatoo was rested last week and might get a chance fresh. - Peter Ryan

The decimated Suns will get a little help back when they host Collingwood on Saturday, but it won't be with captain Gary Ablett. Despite starting contact work last week, the Suns still have no time-frame on Ablett's return, saying his injured shoulder is still not back to 100 per cent. Forward Tom Lynch (calf) was a late scratching from the heavy loss against West Coast but is expected to come back into the team, while defender Clay Cameron (calf) is also a chance to return. Harley Bennell copped a knock to his knee against the Eagles but will play against the Magpies. – Michael Whiting 

Midfielder Josh Kelly continues to push hard for a recall to the senior side - he racked up 36 touches and kicked three goals for the Giants in their solid win over the Brisbane Lions in the NEAFL. Curtly Hampton and Jack Steele were others to win plenty of the footy, while big man Rory Lobb dragged in 10 marks and kicked three goals. Jed Lamb booted five to continue his goalkicking form in 2015. - Adam Curley

 The selection squeeze will be on this week with Jordan Lewis (suspension), Isaac Smith (illness) and Brian Lake (knee) all set to return for the Grand Final rematch against the Sydney Swans. Lake has been sidelined by a medial strain since Anzac Day, but appears ready to resume for an important role on Lance Franklin or Kurt Tippett. Spots in the 22 will be at a premium after last round's belting of Melbourne, meaning VFL star performers Jed Anderson and Alex Woodward could have to continue biding their time at Box Hill. - Travis King

Emerging forward Jesse Hogan will return to face the Bulldogs on Sunday, after he was a late withdrawal against Hawthorn due to soreness. Coach Paul Roos said after the game that Hogan could have played against the Hawks, but the Demons had decided to take a cautious approach. Christian Salem is set to miss a few weeks with a hamstring injury, opening the door for at least one other selection change. Nuggety midfielder Aidan Riley was Casey’s best player in the VFL and might get a look in on the back of strong form. Neville Jetta, who has missed the past three games with concussion, may also return against the Dogs. Scorpions coach Justin Plapp suggested Jack Watts, who ‘dropped himself’ to the VFL, might need a couple of games at the lower level to find form, but he is also likely to come into the selection mix. – Ben Guthrie

If forward Ben Brown is ruled out with the knee injury he suffered last Friday night against Essendon, Majak Daw and Aaron Black shape as his most likely replacements. Daw's VFL form has been stronger than Black's this year, with the forward/ruckman finishing with six marks, 20 hit-outs and three goals in Werribee's win over Williamstown last Sunday. Black kicked two goals in North Ballarat's win over the Northern Blues but has struggled to take VFL games by the scruff of the neck in 2015. However, Black got the nod over Daw in round five against Hawthorn when Jarrad Waite was a late withdrawal, and might be preferred this week for team balance. Mason Wood is likely to return after being rested last week, while Kayne Turner put his hand up for a senior recall with a lively performance for Werribee. Dr Peter Larkins says defender Lachie Hansen remains in some doubt for Saturday night's game against Fremantle after jarring his hips against Essendon. - Nick Bowen

The big inclusion this week should be Ollie Wines, who appears to have overcome his wrist injury. Wines' training load has been increasing over the past few weeks and after almost proving his fitness for last weekend's loss to the Brisbane Lions he ought to be a welcome return against Richmond. Full-back Alipate Carlile will also return after a week off with back tightness. Paul Stewart (31 possessions, 13 marks, one goal) is unrelenting this year as an SANFL force and Aaron Young (31, nine clearances, one goal) was also in fine touch. Sam Gray (27 disposals, two goals), Brendon Ah Chee, Andrew Moore and Jake Neade (three goals) were also prominent. – Harry Thring

Important midfielder Shane Edwards was declared a certain starter just hours after he was withdrawn late against Collingwood with a minor calf problem, so expect him to return against Port Adelaide. Key forward Ben Griffiths will also be available after missing one match with concussion, meaning debutant Liam McBean could get just one taste at the top level for now. It wouldn't surprise to also see tall defender David Astbury return this week to replace Todd Elton, but Reece Conca (22 possessions) might need another run in the VFL after one game in two weeks. Matt McDonough continued his push for senior selection in the VFL with 30 possessions (19 contested), and three goals. – Nathan Schmook

With Nick Riewoldt to miss after a brutal concussion sustained against Adelaide on Saturday, the Saints will need to consider their forward set up. Tim Membrey kicked three goals in the VFL on the weekend and looks the likely replacement, given Paddy McCartin, as well as defender Hugh Goddard, was rested from all levels. Jack Lonie (concussion) and Jarryn Geary (corked thigh) are also likely to miss but Leigh Montagna (hamstring tightness) faces a fitness test and could line up against West Coast. Farren Ray looms as a likely inclusion after 28 touches in the VFL in his first game back from a serious hamstring injury. Sam Gilbert's return (from the problematic foot issue he battled with last season) has hit another snag with a lingering abdominal injury. He is expected to resume the week after via the VFL. - Jennifer Phelan

Utility Craig Bird had a game-high 34 possessions and 13 clearances in the Swans' big win over Southport in the NEAFL and could be a chance to play the Hawks this week. Harry Cunningham, Dan Robinson and Zak Jones were others to impress, while Brandon Jack is also close to his first game of 2015.  - Adam Curley

The Eagles appeared to get through the 92-point win over Gold Coast unscathed. Brad Sheppard hurt his knee late but was fine post-match. Jeremy McGovern was a late withdrawal last Saturday with a corked calf but should return to the line-up this week. East Perth copped a hiding in the WAFL and very few players made a strong case for a call-up. Kane Lucas gathered 27 touches in the wet while young defender Tom Barrass had 19 touches and seven marks. Brant Colledge collected only 18 touches while Alec Waterman had 17 and a goal. Patrick McGinnity and Scott Lycett did not play at all last weekend. Xavier Ellis returned via the East Perth receives, with 17 disposals, but it is unlikely he’ll come straight back into contention. – Alex Malcolm     

Young guns Jack Macrae and Nathan Hrovat did their chances of a senior recall no harm with starring performances in Footscray's VFL win over Geelong. Macrae picked up 34 possessions in a best on ground performance while Hrovat kicked four classy goals. Will Minson had another strong game and could be an inclusion if the Dogs want more presence in the ruck. Forward Jarrad Grant should also be in the selection frame after slotting four goals and setting up several others.  Youngster Mitch Honeychurch may be one player to make way after having little impact in the loss to Fremantle. - Ryan Davidson