Just four teams remain in the hunt for the 2023 AFL premiership, with Collingwood, Brisbane, Carlton and Port Adelaide/GWS set to decide the flag race.
While handed a week's break following their qualifying final win over Melbourne over a week ago, the Magies haven't dodged the injury bug, losing a midfielder through a hamstring strain. The minor premiers will regain a young star for their preliminary final in what will be a major boost for Craig McRae's side.
Their opponents the GWS Giants have proven that they can get the job done anywhere against anyone at any time, pulling the plug on the Power's season without harm or foul.
Carlton needs to deal with a healthy selection problem as a number of key names eye a return for the Blues' trip to the Gabba, while the Lions will enter the penultimate weekend of action at near-full-strength.
Here are the expected changes for both preliminary finals and the predicted lineups for all four sides.
Friday, 22 September
First Preliminary Final, MCG, 7.50pm AEST
There's been mixed news for the Magpies since their win over Melbourne, with Taylor Adams ruled out of the preliminary final with a hamstring strain while Nick Daicos is set to return. Adams' setback might make selection planning easier for Craig McRae though, with Daicos to fill the void he leaves. Darcy Moore has also been cleared after needing a cast for a wrist/hand issue that he's been carrying. Forward Jack Ginnivan and defender Oleg Markov were likely in the firing line before Adams' setback, with the former set for the sub role. The unlucky John Noble could be set to miss the cut again, joining the likes of Billy Frampton and Finlay Macrae among those on standby.
Ins: N. Daicos
Outs: Adams
FB: Maynard, Murphy, Quaynor
HB: Pendlebury, Moore, Crisp
C: Hoskin-Elliott, De Goey, J. Daicos
HF: Hill, Mihocek, Lipinski
FF: Elliott, McStay, McCreery
FO: Cameron, N. Daicos, Sidebottom
I/C: Mitchell, Cox, Markov, Howe
SUB: Ginnivan
EMERG: Macrae, Frampton, Noble
With former skipper Stephen Coniglio returning - and starring - during the Giants' semi-final win, the league's youngest side entered Saturday's matchup with a near-clean bill of health. And after disposing of Port with a minimum of fuss, Adam Kingsley could be afforded the ability to select an unchanged side. Yet, after injuring his shoulder during the second half, in-form ruckman Kieran Briggs will be a big watch in the lead-up to Friday night. Still, with the big man managing to finish out the game, Briggs appears ahead of the selection eight ball already. As Kingsley's role-playing disruptors are humming at the right time of the year, the rookie coach will be loathe to alter too much if he doesn't have to, but whether Kingsley wishes to bring veteran defender Nick Haynes back into the mix will be worth watching.
Ins: Unchanged
Outs: Unchanged
FB: Idun, Taylor, Buckley
HB: Whitfield, Himmelberg, Ash
C: Kelly, Green, Callaghan
HF: Daniels, Riccardi, Bedford
FF: Greene, Hogan, Lloyd
FO: Briggs, Ward, Coniglio
I/C: Cumming, Perryman, Keeffe, Brown
SUB: O'Halloran
EMERG: Haynes, Angwin, Preuss
Saturday, 23 September
Second Preliminary Final, The Gabba, 5:15pm AEST
A big question looms over veteran sharpshooter Jack Gunston, who, despite being cleared to play, is no certainty to return given Chris Fagan might not want to shake up the forward line that handled Port Adelaide with some comfort. If the Lions coach wants Gunston in, then it will likely spell trouble for Deven Robertson, who could be shifted into the sub role and force Jarryd Lyons out of the 23-man side altogether. Key defender Jack Payne is needing to prove his fitness at Thursday's main session after battling an ankle injury, with both Darcy Gardiner and Darragh Joyce on standby if he fails to be fit in time for Saturday's preliminary final. Brisbane would be likely to go unchanged if Gunston isn't required and Payne is given the all-clear, while fellow veteran Daniel Rich will continue to press his case for a return before calling time on his career. Darcy Fort, Jaxon Prior and Rhys Mathieson are among the fringe Lions that could be on standby after featuring in the VFL, while Kai Lohmann's season was brought to a close last week due to a fractured collarbone.
Ins: Unchanged
Outs: Unchanged
FB: Starcevich, Andrews, Payne
HB: McKenna, Lester, Ah Chee
C: McCluggage, Dunkley, Zorko
HF: Cameron, Hipwood, Berry
FF: Rayner, Daniher, McCarthy
FO: McInerney, Neale, Bailey
I/C: Robertson, Wilmot, Coleman, Fletcher
SUB: Lyons
EMERG: Rich, Gunston, Gardiner
The Blues are set to have both Harry McKay (concussion) and Jack Martin (suspension) back after the pair missed the semi-final win. Their returns will force a selection headache for Michael Voss, who won't be leaving either out of his preliminary final flans. Midfielder Matthew Kennedy took on a forward third role in their absence and could fall back out of the team despite his three scoring shots. Jesse Motlop earned a starting role in Martin's place and could fall back to the tactical sub role he held for Carlton's first final, meaning rookie Oliver Hollands might be omitted from the lineup once again after starting as sub. Hollands replaced David Cuningham in the win over Melbourne, with the latter another option to start as sub against the Lions if Voss plans to keep Motlop involved after a strong performance over the Demons. Jack Silvagni has been cleared to play but there's unlikely to be an opening for him, however there are some shoulder concerns for Sam Docherty and Blake Acres. Questions over a potential head knock to Jacob Weitering were denied by the club, who has signalled it was a knock to the neck that left the key defender hampered.
Ins: McKay, Martin
Outs: Kennedy, Cuningham
FB: McGovern, Weitering, Newman
HB: Docherty, Kemp, Saad
C: Acres, Hewett, Cottrell
HF: Fogarty, McKay, Martin
FF: Motlop, Curnow, Owies
FO: Pittonet, Cripps, Walsh
I/C: Marchbank, Cerra, De Koning, Cincotta
SUB: Hollands
EMERG: Kennedy, C.Durdin, Cuningham