Geelong coach Chris Scott has declared star recruit Bailey Smith a "lock" to return for the Cats' blockbuster against the Brisbane Lions.
The Cats have also named Tom Stewart to play after a knee injury, while the Lions will receive a huge boost of their own, with Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann returning from injury.
Smith, who starred in Geelong's round-one belting of Fremantle, was a late withdrawal for last week's clash with St Kilda due to a calf complaint.
But the former Western Bulldogs ace will fly up to Brisbane to prepare for Saturday night's match, the first game between the rivals since the Lions shaded the Cats in an epic preliminary final last year.
Stewart was named despite the star defender being subbed off with a knee injury in a shock loss against the Saints.
"As it stands at the moment, we expect them to play," Scott told reporters on Thursday about Smith and Stewart.
"I think we saw enough of Bailey (at training) to know he's a lock unless something happens, and (Stewart) is very likely, but didn't do as much work as Bailey.
"(Stewart's) eager to play, but he's a realist too.
"This is unscientific, and I probably shouldn't say it, but my experience with him is his powers of recuperation are amazing.
"So it didn't surprise me to see him sort of bounce back pretty quickly."
Mark O'Connor, who often has a tagging job on Lions co-captain Lachie Neale, has been dropped for Smith.
Melbourne will regain Steven May from a fractured larynx and Aidan Johnson from suspension against Gold Coast, while Jake Melksham and boom draftee Harvey Langford are among those named on an extended bench.
Jake Lever has been named despite rolling his ankle against North Melbourne.
Matt Jefferson and Charlie Spargo are out injured while Daniel Turner is one of three omissions.
Gold Coast have regained Mac Andrew, Jed Walter and Sam Flanders.
The trio replaced the injured Ben Ainsworth, Charlie Ballard (ACL) and the dropped Alex Sexton.
Elsewhere, former Essendon dynamo Jake Stringer will debut for GWS against Hawthorn after overcoming a hamstring injury.
The Giants have also regained spearhead Jesse Hogan and ruckman Kieren Briggs from a thumb injury and concussion respectively.
Callum Brown, Max Gruzewski and James Leake were dropped.
The Hawks have turned to veteran Luke Breust to replace Connor Macdonald (syndesmosis injury).
St Kilda will hand a debut to No.8 draft pick Tobie Travaglia against Richmond on Saturday.
The Saints regain Cooper Sharman but Hunter Clark is out injured.
Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch returns from suspension, with young forward Liam Fawcett dropped.
Tyler Sonsie replaces the concussed Sam Banks.
Star Carlton forward Harry McKay will be sidelined indefinitely due to unspecified personal reasons, missing the Blues' clash with the Western Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have regained Liam Jones and James O'Donnell, dropping Artie Jones and managing Taylor Duryea.
