Essendon midfielder Dylan Shiel has been ruled out of the Bombers' 22 to face Brisbane on Saturday afternoon.
While Shiel had initially been selected to face the Lions, however, after failing to complete a set of club-based fitness tests at Tullamarine on Friday afternoon, the 29-year-old will now be forced to watch on from the sidelines.
Despite the Dons officially ruling Shiel on Friday evening, the club was not willing to address the specific ailment that was hampering the ex-Giant.
Following a 2021 campaign that was capped at just eight outings, the 181-gamer found solace across the summer before being left to battle a quad complaint as the home-and-away season drew closer.
Although forced onto a modified training program during mid-February, the former underage draft selection was able to don the sash in Round 1, collecting 23 disposals across Essendon's heavy defeat to Geelong.
Shiel has been replaced within Ben Rutten's 22 by Brayden Ham, with Alec Waterman now listed as the medical emergency.
The opening bounce between the pair of 2021 finalists is scheduled for 4:35pm AEDT at Marvel Stadium.