Carlton has recalled bad boys Cameron Cloke, Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett for Saturday night's second elimination final against Brisbane as mystery continued to surround the make-up of the Lions' team.
All three players had been dumped by the Blues last week after being late for a training session but were recalled after good performances in the VFL, particularly after the Blues went down in Round 22 by 12 goals to Adelaide without them - forfeiting the right to a home final.
Cloke booted four goals in the VFL last week while Betts kicked two and Garlett one, as well as laying eight tackles, with Carlton coach Brett Ratten delighted with their response.
The Blues also recalled Shaun Grigg for what will be their first final in eight years while those to pay the price for last week's lamentable showing were Steven Browne, Chris Johnson, Setanta O'hAilpin, Chris Yarran.
The Lions - who are unbeaten in 11 finals matches at the Gabba - not only recalled in-doubt pair Daniel Merrett and Daniel Bradshaw but also named star midfielder Simon Black and defender Josh Drummond, who picked up injuries against Sydney last week.
Brisbane coach Michael Voss had ruled all four players out on Monday - a statement which the Blues were quick to discount - but still would not guarantee on Thursday that all four would play saying he would not play anyone who was not 100 percent fit, even 2002 Brownlow Medalist Black.
"No one is worth playing in finals if they're carrying serious injuries - it's quite rigorous, you (have) got to be able to survive the pressure and we have to put out a fit bunch of boys," he said on Thursday.
Black appeared to injure his hamstring against the Swans last week while Drummond injured his thigh in the same match while star forward Bradshaw and full-back Merrett - who would be the Lions' top choice to play on Carlton's gun spearhead Brendan Fevola - missed last week due to quad and hamstring injuries respectively.
Dual premiership player Tim Notting was named as an emergency as was Rhan Hooper and James Hawksley, who along with Lachlan Henderson was dropped to make way for Bradshaw and Merrett.
Hot favourites Adelaide suffered two injury setbacks ahead of their elimination final clash against suspension-hit Essendon at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.
Not only was star defender Nathan Bock ruled out again due to the heel injury that has sidelined him since Round 18 but the Crows also lost Nathan van Berlo to a back injury with Richard Douglas his replacement.
As expected the Bombers named ruckman Tom Bellchambers, Courtenay Dempsey and former Adelaide player Hayden Skipworth as the replacements for suspended trio Matthew Lloyd, Patrick Ryder and Sam Lonergan.
Veteran Mark McVeigh was named even though he is carrying a broken hand with coach Matthew Knights saying he would allow McVeigh to make the final call as to whether he is ready to play.
"He is a tough hombre," Knights said of McVeigh.
"He was sore late in the game (against Hawthorn last week) but if he says to me he is right to go, we will back him in because we need every senior player up and running in the finals type atmosphere."
Geelong received a huge boost for its qualifying final clash against the Western Bulldogs with star forwards Paul Chapman and Travis Varcoe back from hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively.
That means the Cats are back to full-strength with the exception of 2007 Norm Smith Medalist Steve Johnson (hip), who is expected to return next week, as Simon Hogan and Ryan Gamble were dropped.
The Dogs also received a boost with No.1 ruckman Ben Hudson and playmaker Ryan Griffen returning from hamstring injuries leaving Tom Williams (foot) as their only absentee as Andrejs Everitt and Sam Reid made way.
St Kilda and Collingwood are yet to finalise their teams for Sunday's other qualifying final at the MCG with the Saints naming veteran pair Luke Ball and Max Hudghton in their 25-man squad.
But both remain unlikely to play with the Saints' only change expected to be the return of No.1 ruckman Michael Gardiner from a hamstring strain in place of young understudy Ben McEvoy.
The Pies named star midfielder Scott Pendlebury, who trained well on Thursday and is expected to return from a back injury, while versatile big man Leigh Brown was also named in the squad and is expected to win a place in the final 22 after being a late withdrawal due to illness last week.
Tyson Goldsack is the only player that has been omitted so far as the Pies again overlooked veteran Anthony Rocca from a place even in their extended squad.