Carlton midfielder Mitch Robinson is out of Saturday’s AFL pre-season game against Brisbane because of back soreness.
Robinson was supposed to join a group of key Blues players for their first hitouts in the match at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.
Captain Chris Judd, forwards Jarrad Waite and Andrew Walker and defender Nick Duigan will all play.
But Robinson, who finished seventh in Carlton’s best and fairest voting last year, was sent for precautionary scans on Thursday.
“His back pulled up sore this morning – he was sent for scans, which came back clear, and he should be right for next week,” said Blues football manager Andrew McKay.
Star rugby league converts Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau will play against each other for the first time in Saturday’s NAB Cup match between Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast at Albury on the Victoria-NSW border.
Earlier this week, the Suns announced Hunt had signed a contract extension that commits him to the club until the end of the 2014 season.
Geelong will welcome back several members of last year’s premiership team for their Saturday home game against Richmond.
James Podsiadly, best and fairest winner Corey Enright, Matthew Scarlett, Steve Johnson, James Kelly, Paul Chapman, Joel Corey and Allen Christensen were named in their squad.
But the Cats will also rest new captain Joel Selwood and Jimmy Bartel.
The Tigers have beefed up their squad, naming Trent Cotchin, Nathan Foley, Danny Jackson and Nigel Grigg.
Jack Trengrove will captain Melbourne for the first time in Saturday night’s clash against Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium.
He has missed the first two rounds of the pre-season with a leg injury.
The Hawks will strengthen up their side, recalling stars Sam Mitchell, Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli, Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott is hopeful midfielder Daniel Wells will be ready for round one after he returned from blood clots quicker than expected.
Wells was diagnosed with clots on his lungs after shoulder surgery last September.
He is off blood-thinning medication, which had prevented him taking part in contact drills at training.
Wells is set to return in Sunday’s North Ballarat game against the Western Bulldogs.
“If he gets a game and a half in before round one, I think he’d be right to go,” Scott said.
The Kangaroos will rest Drew Petrie and Scott McMahon.