AFL premiership favourites St Kilda and Geelong welcomed back their stars from injury on Thursday night with the unbeaten Saints including eight of their best players for Sunday's clash against Essendon while the Cats welcome back their two top defenders for their trip to Sydney.
The Saints' frightening depth was again on display as the league leaders - who are aiming to equal Essendon's record of winning the first 20 games of the season in 2000 when they meet the Bombers on Sunday - regained skipper Nick Riewoldt and fellow top liners Steven Baker, Sam Gilbert, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna.
All missed the previous week's clash with Hawthorn due to minor injuries as Ross Lyon's team still managed to defeat the reigning premiers with a second string line-up.
All eight stars were named in the Saints' starting 18 with the players to make way at present being the injured Andrew McQualter while Robert Eddy, Ben McEvoy, Colm Begley and Jarryn Geary were dropped.
But the Saints will be forced to axe three more players to make room for all their returning stars when they finalise their team on Sunday night and this is where the extent of the Saints' list of quality back-up players really becomes apparent.
That is because the other three omissions will come from experienced ruckman Steven King, in-form big man Jason Blake, much-improved trio Clint Jones, Sean Dempster and James Gwilt, youngster David Armitage who was one of the club's best in a rare start last week and last week's first gamer Jack Steven, who impressed on his AFL debut.
All seven were named on an extended bench which will be cut to four on Friday night.
The Bombers meanwhile regained key players Andrew Lovett and Andrew Welsh from thigh injuries for a game they must win to keep their finals hopes alive.
The second-placed Cats welcomed back full-back Matthew Scarlett and centre-half-back Harry Taylor following two matches out with groin strains while fellow defender David Johnson and much-maligned big man Mark Blake were given another chance.
But the Cats' recent injury woes continued when they lost David Wojcinski and Darren Milburn to ankle injuries and Max Rooke to knee soreness while Paul Chapman and James Kelly remain sidelined with hamstring injuries.
However 2007 Norm Smith Medalist Steve Johnson was named to play despite again struggling with his on-going hip complaint during last week's loss to Carlton.
The Swans bought in 2005 premiership hero Leo Barry for his first game for the season following knee problems in place of hamstring victim Jarrad McVeigh.
Struggling reigning premier Hawthorn made four changes for Friday night's MCG clash against Adelaide as they attempt to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
The Hawks regained 2007 best and fairest winner Brad Sewell, a late withdrawal last week with a quad injury, and handed a debut to local boy Shane Savage while Jarryd Morton and Beau Muston come in for the injured Jarryd Roughead and omitted trio Beau Dowler, Thomas Murphy and Brendan Whitecross.
The Crows named forgotten forward Trent Hentschel for just his third game since 2006 following his serious knee problems as the replacement for injured high-flier Brett Burton while first gamer Rory Sloane, a 19-year-old defender from Victoria, is in for Taylor Walker.
Richmond not only bought in Joel Bowden for his last game but recalled Shane Tuck after his surprising three week exile in the VFL for Saturday's MCG clash against Collingwood as Kel Moore and Jayden Post were dumped.
The Pies chose Sharrod Wellingham for the injured Tyson Goldsack (Achilles)
Port Adelaide went for experience for Sunday's must-win home game against Carlton, as the Power attempts to hang onto eighth spot, with Peter Burgoyne and Josh Carr named in the 25 man squad while the Blues are yet to make a change.
Brisbane lost Troy Selwood with neck soreness for Saturday night's top four battle against the Bulldogs as Travis Johnstone returns while the Dogs welcomed back star forwards Robert Murphy and Scott Welsh but midfielder Daniel Cross is out with an ankle strain.
Melbourne, which has just 26 fit players to choose from, lost Cameron Bruce (wrist), Rohan Bail (quad) and Michael Newton (Achilles) for Sunday's MCG clash against Fremantle but Brock McLean, Jared Rivers, Liam Jurrah, Russell Robertson and Mark Jamar return as does Luke McPharlin from a calf strain for the Dockers.
And West Coast and North Melbourne named unchanged sides for their match at Subiaco on Saturday.