The race for this year's AFL premiership has narrowed to six clubs, with Brisbane and Hawthorn keeping their campaigns alive at the cost of Carlton and the Western Bulldogs.
Both the Lions and Hawks have looming selection calls to make amid respective injury battles, while Port Adelaide and GWS will have much to ponder in the wake of their qualifying final losses.
Power coach Ken Hinkley could be cut-throat in his planning for a home semi-final win after falling to Geelong by 84 points, with the Giants likely on the end of a much-needed boost for their meeting with Brisbane.
Here we assess the potential ins, outs and lineups for all four clubs ahead of week two of the AFL finals.
Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn
Friday, September 13
Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm (AEST)
Port Adelaide
Coach Ken Hinkley will have to weigh up how to respond to Thursday's horror performance against Geelong but will be mindful not to shake up his side too much.
There's a good chance he backs in veteran Charlie Dixon to bounce back from his poor outing against the Cats that netted him one effective disposal, one mark and no goals as Mark Blicavs significantly had the upper hand.
Esava Ratugolea is another who could face a nervous wait ahead of selection, having amassed just the six touches against his old side.
Sharpshooter Todd Marshall is still on standby but has played one game since mid-July due to injury, with Hinkley stating there is some concern to bring the 25-year-old back off little match play.
Young tall Ollie Lord is in a similar position after an interrupted year that hasn't seen him play since Round 19. Lord booted four goals for the Power in last year's qualifying final loss to Brisbane but was quiet the week after against GWS, managing one goal from five disposals.
Star midfielder Zak Butters has avoided any significant damage to his ribs and should be right to face the Hawks after being subbed out of the Geelong loss at half-time.
Darcy Byrne-Jones could hold his role in the back half due to the absence of Kane Farrell and Dan Houston, giving Francis Evans a starting spot in Hinkley's attack. Quinton Narkle is likely to hold his role as the tactical sub, with Josh Sinn, Dante Visentini, Dylan Williams and Lord among those waiting in the wings.
Ins:ย Todd Marshall
Outs: Charlie Dixon
FB: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher,ย Miles Bergman
HB:ย Lachlan Jones,ย Aliir Aliir,ย Logan Evans
C:ย Jase Burgoyne,ย Ollie Wines,ย Travis Boak
HF:ย Willie Rioli, Esava Ratugolea,ย Connor Rozee
FF:ย Mitch Georgiades, Todd Marshall, Jed McEntee
FO:ย Jordon Sweet,ย Zak Butters,ย Willem Drew
I/C: Francis Evans,ย Jackson Mead,ย Jason Horne-Francis,ย Ryan Burton
SUB: Quinton Narkle
EMERG:ย Dante Visentini, Charlie Dixon, Josh Sinn
Hawthorn
All eyes will be on whether Will Day will be ready to play come Friday night. The collarbone injury that has kept him sidelined since Round 23 will leave him in a race against the clock to be fit.
Sam Mitchell is likely to avoid any lingering risk if there is some concern with bringing back the 2023 Peter Crimmins Medal winner, especially given how well his side fared against the Western Bulldogs' midfield on Friday night.
Like last week, the club could make a call early and remove any selection speculation, with Day's extended absence likely to mean the Hawks head into the semi-final unchanged.
If Day is cleared to play, pressure mounts on Finn Maginness, Harry Morrison and Josh Ward, with the latter two being the better performing pair against the Bulldogs.
Ward came into Mitchell's lineup in place of the hamstrung Cameron Mackenzie, who will miss the trip to South Australia following a low-grade strain suffered on Wednesday.
Maginness could be the one to make way for Day, while Changkuoth Jiath might remain on the periphery for the second straight week given Morrison's steady evening against the Dogs.
The confirmed loss of Sam Frost adds further frustration for the Hawks' selection committee, who will weigh up multiple options to replace the veteran defender.
Young backman Jai Serong's form for Box Hill to end the VFL season was promising and should have him right in the mix, but pre-season recruit Ethan Phillips might be the safer and more suitable option to fill Frost's role.
The 2022 Forthergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winner has four centimetres on Serong, stopping the tape at 197cm and should be able to match the aerial impact of a Dixon or Ratugolea.
Ins: Ethan Phillips
Outs: Sam Frost
FB:ย Josh Weddle,ย Ethan Phillips,ย Jarman Impey
HB:ย Blake Hardwick,ย James Sicily,ย Karl Amon
C: Josh Ward, James Worpel,ย Massimo D'Ambrosio
HF:ย Dylan Moore, Calsher Dear,ย Jack Ginnivan
FF:ย Connor MacDonald,ย Mabior Chol,ย Nick Watson
FO:ย Lloyd Meek,ย Conor Nash,ย Jai Newcombe
I/C:ย Jack Scrimshaw, Finn Maginness,ย Harry Morrison,ย Jack Gunston
SUB:ย Luke Breust
EMERG: Changkuoth Jiath,ย Ned Reeves,ย Jai Serong
GWS vs Brisbane
Saturday, September 14
Engie Stadium, 7:30pm (AEST)
GWS
The Giants are tipped to have Toby Bedford back from a calf injury that has hampered his workload in recent weeks, with coach Adam Kingsley expecting the forward/tag option to be fit for Saturday's semi-final.
His return will come in place of either qualifying final tactical sub Xavier O'Halloran or youngster Toby McMullin, with the latter replaced by O'Halloran in the narrow loss to Sydney.
Kingsley could swing a double change and pull both McMullin and O'Halloran from his 23-man side, with rookie Harvey Thomas a chance to join Bedford as inclusions for the home final.
Tall forward Jake Riccardi wasn't selected after missing a month due to finger surgery, instead named as an emergency for the qualifying final alongside Nick Haynes and Conor Stone.
Lachlan Keeffe might've done enough to hold his spot in Kingsley's forward half, booting 1.2 from 10 disposals while also pinch-hitting in the ruck.
Ins: Toby Bedford
Outs: Toby McMullin
FB:ย Harrison Himmelberg,ย Sam Taylor,ย Connor Idun
HB:ย Lachie Whitfield,ย Jack Buckley,ย Harry Perryman
C:ย Callan Ward,ย Tom Green,ย Finn Callaghan
HF:ย Toby Bedford,ย Aaron Cadman,ย Brent Daniels
FF:ย Darcy Jones,ย Jesse Hogan,ย Toby Greene
FO:ย Kieren Briggs,ย Josh Kelly,ย Stephen Coniglio
I/C:ย James Peatling,ย Lachie Ash, Isaac Cumming, Lachlan Keeffe
SUB: Xavier O'Halloran
EMERG:ย Toby McMullin, Jake Riccardi, Nick Haynes
Brisbane
Another difficult call awaits surrounding key defender Jack Payne, who hurt his knee in Saturday night's win over Carlton.
The setback comes a year on from Payne hurting his ankle in week one of the 2023 finals series, an injury that eventually led to him missing the season decider against Collingwood.
The club awaits scans on a feared MCL injury for Payne, who is now in doubt for the semi-final trip to Sydney's west.
A forced change should be straightforward for Chris Fagan though, with Irishman Darragh Joyce having slotted into the Lions' backline in Payne's absence prior to September when the latter was dealing with a foot injury.
Joyce was among his side's best performers in the VFL on Saturday, collecting 21 disposals, 12 marks, eight intercept possessions and five score involvements in the semi-final win over Williamstown.
Deven Robertson, Jarryd Lyons, Darcy Fort, Bruce Reville, Jaxon Prior and Brandon Ryan also impressed in the win at Springfield on Saturday afternoon to keep their names in selection consideration.
Ins: Darragh Joyce
Outs:ย Jack Payne
FB:ย Dayne Zorko,ย Harris Andrews,ย Brandon Starcevich
HB:ย Darcy Wilmot, Darragh Joyce, Ryan Lester
C:ย Jaspa Fletcher,ย Hugh McCluggage,ย Jarrod Berry
HF:ย Cameron Rayner,ย Joe Daniher,ย Zac Bailey
FF:ย Charlie Cameron,ย Eric Hipwood,ย Kai Lohmann
FO:ย Oscar McInerney,ย Josh Dunkley,ย Lachie Neale
I/C:ย Callum Ah Chee,ย Will Ashcroft,ย Logan Morris,ย Conor McKenna
SUB: Noah Answerth
EMERG:ย Bruce Reville, Darcy Fort, Harry Sharp
