Travis Boak’s AFL return will come at the expense of housemate Sam Powell-Pepper, who has been dropped by Port Adelaide for Sunday’s game against Brisbane.
Port have confirmed two changes for the Adelaide Oval clash, regaining former skipper Boak and handing a debut to mid-season draftee Cam Sutcliffe.
Powell-Pepper and Xavier Duursma are the two omissions.
Boak is a key inclusion for the Power, having suffered back spasms while warming up for last week’s Showdown victory over Adelaide.
The Lions have also swung two changes, adding Josh Walker and Oscar McInerney in place of veteran Luke Hodge (managed) and key forward Eric Hipwood (knee).
There are high stakes for fourth-placed Brisbane and seventh-placed Port, both of whom have rivals breathing down their necks.
Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt, Melbourne’s All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn and GWS gun Lachie Whitfield are all confirmed starters for Sunday’s other games.
Riewoldt will play his first game since suffering a posterior cruciate ligament injury in round six.
He replaces Jack Graham to face the Giants at the MCG.
Whitfield, Daniel Lloyd, Matt Buntine and debutant Bobby Hill come into the Giants’ 22 in place of injured star Josh Kelly (calf), Zac Langdon (ankle) and omitted duo Jeremy Finlayson and Jackson Hately.
Melbourne will welcome back three key players from injury in Gawn, Jake Lever and Neville Jetta for their clash against the unchanged Western Bulldogs.
Sam Weideman (calf), Tom McDonald (knee) and Marty Hore (collarbone) are out for the Demons.