St Kilda has enjoyed the luxury of recalling its No.1 defender Max Hudghton in place of the suspended Zac Dawson for Saturday night's match of the round clash against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
The unbeaten Saints, who are on course to concede the least amount of points ever since the competition went to a 22-round season in 1970, again underlined their depth as they were able to recall Hudghton and the experienced James Gwilt for suspended pair Dawson and Justin Koschitzke for a clash that pits together two of the AFL's top three teams.
Dawson has been a revelation this season - playing every game in his first season with the Saints after managing just 14 in four years with Hawthorn - but his suspension has enabled 32-year-old Hudghton to return for just his fourth game of the season.
The only survivor from the Saints last grand final team in 1997, Hudghton missed the first half of this season due to calf problems before returning in Round 11 but he only managed just three games before spraining his ankle against Richmond in Round 13.
Gwilt returns after playing the first 12 matches of the year but has spent the past few weeks in the VFL as the Saints again overlooked Matt Maguire, who remains stranded on 99 games having being unable to break into the team all season.
The Saints will also be again without in-form ruckman Michael Gardiner, who was a late withdrawal last week with a corked calf, as the Bulldogs made no change following last week's win over Essendon.
Geelong's injury woes have barely eased ahead of another meeting with their 2008 grand final conquerors Hawthorn with only 2007 Brownlow Medalist Jimmy Bartel to return this week.
The Cats will be without 2007 Norm Smith Medalist Steve Johnson for a fourth successive week with what was originally listed as a minor hip injury by the club while James Kelly (hamstring), skipper Tom Harley (knee), David Johnson (calf) and long-term absentee Brad Ottens (knee) all remain sidelined.
The revitalised Hawks, aiming for three straight wins for the first time this season, made no change.
Richmond caused a surprise by dropping experienced midfielder Shane Tuck for Sunday's MCG clash against Essendon, ending his run of 104 consecutive games dating back to Round 1, 2005.
"Shane had a chat to (acting Tigers' coach) Jade (Rawlings) and the coaching staff and there were obviously areas of concern they wanted him to work on and he will play at Coburg this week," Richmond football manager Ross Monaghan told Sportal when asked about Tuck's surprise omission as the Tigers named Trent Cotchin, Ben Cousins and Nathan Brown in their squad of 25.
The Bombers added Nathan Lovett-Murray, Angus Monfries and Hayden Skipworth to their 22 from last week.
Tuck was not the only big name omitted this week as Melbourne also dumped veteran forward Russell Robertson for Sunday's trip to Canberra to face Sydney, which will be without Ted Richards following the serious internal injuries he sustained against Carlton last week.
The Demons also lost Brock McLean (knee), Mark Jamar (quad), Brad Green (hand) and Jack Grimes (back) to injury.
Carlton overlooked vice-captain Nick Stevens for the fourth straight week as defender Michael Jamison returns from injury for Friday night's clash against Collingwood which lost defender Nathan Brown to a knee injury and omitted Brad Dick and Sharrod Wellingham. Into the side comes young trio Jaxson Barham, Chris Dawes and Steele Sidebottom.
Adelaide and Port both welcomed back star midfielders for Sunday's showdown at AAMI Stadium with Nathan Van Berlo back for the Crows and Shaun Burgoyne as well as key defender Troy Chaplin back for the Power.
Fremantle welcomed back captain Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands from injury for Saturday's derby against West Coast and named key pair Chris Tarrant and Paul Hasleby even though both are in doubt due to injury.
The Eagles promoted Scott Selwood and Tom Swift for Eric Mackenzie and Adam Cockie.
And Brisbane named Jared Brennan, who has been battling ankle soreness all week, for Saturday night's home game against North Melbourne as star forward Daniel Bradshaw was ruled out with a hamstring injury while the Roos dropped experienced defender Daniel Pratt as goalsneak Matt Campbell was named for his first game since Round 11 following a serious hamstring injury.