Hawthorn has welcomed back the big guns for its clash against fellow top four aspirants Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.
A win for the third-placed Hawks over the fourth-placed Swans would all but sew up a top four finish and the double chance in September and they have been boosted by the return of three key players from injury in Chance Bateman, Brad Sewell and Simon Taylor as they attempt to end a six match losing streak against the Swans dating back to 2003.
But it was not all good news for the Hawks with tough midfielder Jordan Lewis ruled out with a quad injury.
While Bateman (quad) and ruckman Taylor (cut knee) were always expected to resume this week, the inclusion of Sewell - the Hawks' reigning club champion and one of the most improved players in the AFL in the past three years - is a major surprise.
It comes just a week after he had his appendix removed, which followed on from a shoulder injury which had sidelined him since round 10.
The Swans have regained dual Brownlow Medalist Adam Goodes following a one match suspension, which ended his run of 204 consecutive matches, but troubled spearhead Barry Hall is out indefinitely after being stood down by the club while he battles personal issues.
Carlton and St Kilda also welcomed back their gun midfielders for Friday night's mini elimination final at the MCG.
The ninth-placed Blues, who will dislodge the Saints from the top eight if they win, have regained skipper Chris Judd while Lenny Hayes returns for the Saints.
Judd missed the round 14 win over Richmond due to concussion and replaces omitted defender Setanta O'hAilpin while Hayes - who missed the Saints' round 14 win over the Kangaroos on the Gold Coast with a back-related hamstring complaint - returns in place of the dumped Charlie Gardiner.
The Kangaroos reacted to that disappointing loss to the Saints by making four changes for their must win trip to Port Adelaide on Saturday night.
As well as dropping Shannon Grant for disciplinary reasons, the Roos also dumped Corey Jones - last year's leading goalkicker who has managed just 21 goals in 12 games this year and was kept goalless against the Saints - as well as Matt Riggio and Alan Obst.
Into the side come Ben Ross, Blake Grima, Scott McMahon and first gamer Todd Goldstein, a 20-year-old 201cm ruckman.
Port regained Chad Cornes following a one match absence with a calf injury while Robbie Gray was ruled out with an ankle injury.
The Western Bulldogs suffered a major blow for Sunday's home game against Melbourne after losing star midfielder Ryan Griffen, who has flown home to Adelaide for family reasons while the Demons will be without Aaron Davey - dumped for disciplinary reasons and the injured Brock McLean.
Collingwood is unchanged for Saturday's big MCG clash against Adelaide, following its great win in Sydney last week, while the Crows bought in Jonathon Griffin and Bryce Campbell for the injured Brent Reilly and Nick Gill.
Richmond has lost the in-form Matthew Richardson to a hamstring injury as well as still being without injured full-back Will Thursfield and centre-half-back Graham Polak, following his recent tram accident, for its trip to West Coast.
And amongst the possible replacements is 19-year-old first gamer Andrew Collins, who was taken at pick 73 in the 2006 national draft.
The Eagles dropped Jaymie Graham and Brent Staker while veteran Michael Braun returns for what could be his last game after he announced during the week that he will retire at season's end.
Fremantle has given its controversial goalsneak Jeff Farmer - recently axed by the club again for disciplinary reasons - one last chance to revive his faltering AFL career after including him for Saturday's daunting trip to Geelong.
Farmer returns along with key defenders Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson after the Dockers lost the retired Peter Bell, Roger Hayden to injury and dumped Brett Peake.
The Cats, winners of 32 of their past 34 matches, made no change.
And Essendon has made two changes for its home game against Brisbane with Henry Slattery and Jay Neagle returning for the injured David Myers and Ricky Dyson while the Lions regained Travis Johnstone following injury but lost Joel MacDonald (ankle) while promoting Cheynee Stiller and Matthew Leuenberger for James Polkinghorne and Justin Sherman.