Before an all-important clash with third-placed Brisbane, the Demons will need to make a call on star small forward Kysaiah Pickett.
It looms as one of the biggest selection headaches of the round, with many vital fixtures to come for the AFL's mid-table teams.
Meanwhile, Stuart Dew's Gold Coast departure could open the door for an underused key forward.
The Sporting News has all the latest selection news.
Sydney (15th) vs Western Bulldogs (7th) teams
Sydney will be without ball-winners Chad Warner (calf) and Jake Lloyd (concussion) for its must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs.
Forward Logan McDonald didn’t fire in a loss to Richmond last week but could escape omission with no standout replacements in the reserves.
Half back Will Gould is a likely inclusion for Jake Lloyd, while Sam Wicks had four goals and 24 disposals in the VFL. Swan Errol Gulden could move into Warner’s inside midfield role, with Wicks to take the wing and half forward positions.
The Bulldogs will be without Bailey Smith (illness) while Ryan Gardner pulled up sore after a battle with Collingwood’s key forwards, but should play.
Smith has averaged just over 15 disposals in his last three games and could benefit from some rest, with midfielder Oskar Baker available after a week in the VFL.
MORE: AFL Injury List 2023
Melbourne (4th) vs Brisbane (3rd) teams
Melbourne has a decision to make with small forward Pickett. The 22-year-old is facing omission after a four-disposal game last week and a generally poor run of form.
Pickett has managed just 22 goals in 14 games, down on his 40-plus goal hauls of previous years, and he isn’t finding the ball nearly enough. Kade Chandler is a likely replacement should the Demons swing the axe on the star goal kicker.
Midfielder James Harmes (27 disposals, one goal) could come back into the AFL side, with debutant Taj Woewodin a potential out.
Brisbane should welcome midfielder Jarrod Berry back into its engine room, while star Josh Dunkley is still unavailable due to calf soreness.
Former captain Dayne Zorko was quiet against West Coast and was subbed out of the game in the fourth. Berry for Zorko may be the Lions' only change.
Collingwood (1st) vs Fremantle (14th) teams
Magpies veteran Steele Sidebottom could make his long-awaited return from an MCL injury this week against the Dockers.
Collingwood's Trent Bianco, who replaced Will Hoskin-Elliot as a substitute, could come out for Sidebottom, while Brayden Maynard is a likely boost to the AFL side. Defender Oleg Markov (18 touches) could be an unlucky omission.
A suspension to star midfielder Caleb Serong leaves Fremantle facing an uphill battle, while key defender Brennan Cox is also set to miss with an ankle concern.
AFL first-gamer Karl Worner pulled up with a sore calf last week, and will also miss the key Collingwood clash.
Midfielder-forward Bailey Banfield is a likely replacement for Serong, while Nathan O’Driscoll could fill Worner’s medium defender role.
The Dockers will struggle to replace Cox, but could recall experienced key defender Joel Hamling who has been patient in the WAFL this season.
Gold Coast Suns (13th) vs St Kilda (6th) teams
Steven King will ponder selection as he leads his first AFL game for Gold Coast as interim head coach.
Previous coach Dew had been reluctant to try Mabior Chol, but after a six-goal VFL showing the 200cm forward is due for a call-up.
Suns leading goal-kicker Ben King was subbed out against Port Adelaide after failing to impact the aerial contest. If Gold Coast want to be taken seriously, they will reward the form of Chol and allow King to push for selection in the VFL.
St Kilda will hope to regain defender Josh Battle (concussion) and veteran Brad Hill (knee), as the top-four finish charge continues.
Battle should replace Zaine Cordy (concussion), with Hill the inclusion for Seb Ross (hamstring). Midfielder Jack Billings (broken thumb) could make way for Jack Bytel, who impressed in the VFL with 30 disposals.
Promising tall Max King is out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury, and leaves room for Jack Hayes to make his AFL comeback after an ACL.
MORE: Stuart Dew sacking: Gold Coast Suns part ways with coach
Carlton (11th) vs Port Adelaide (2nd) teams
The Blues will hope to regain aerialists Mitch McGovern and Tom De Koning for an important battle with Port Adelaide.
Midfielder Matthew Kennedy is set to miss time with an MCL, and should be replaced with George Hewett, or Paddy Dow, who has dominated at VFL level this season.
De Koning can take the ruck, leaving fill-in ruckman Lewis Young to return to a valuable key defender post. Brodie Kemp may be the backline omission after a quiet game last week.
Skipper Tom Jonas will make his return to Power colours with defender Trent McKenzie set to miss time with an ankle concern.
Small forward Junior Rioli will also miss the clash for family reasons, leaving Quinton Narkle his starting spot.
Youngster Jason Horne-Francis was poor against Gold Coast with 11 disposals and a goal, and may face competition from agile midfielder Jackson Mead, who is performing well at SANFL level.
MORE: AFL's longest winning streaks: Can Port Adelaide break the record in 2023?
Geelong (8th) vs Essendon (5th) teams
Star forward Jeremy Cameron (concussion) and dashing defender Jake Kolodjashnij (adductor) are expected to play on Saturday.
Irishman Oisín Mullin could make way for Kolodjashnij after a quiet game, while Gary Rohan could face a selection threat from Cameron. Rohan has kicked just one goal in the last two rounds.
Essendon is hopeful key backman Jordan Ridley will be available to face Geelong, after the 24-year-old was cleared of a serious knee injury.
Defender Kaine Baldwin is the likely inclusion if Ridley doesn’t pass training touchpoints, while Mason Redman should stay in the side despite a hamstring scare.
Ruckman Andrew Phillips was suspended for his hit on Adelaide’s Riley O’Brian, leaving Nick Bryan as an obvious selection for the Bombers.
Adelaide (9th) vs GWS (10th) teams
Adelaide came up short against Essendon last week and could look to shuffle its personnel before it takes on a surging Giants side.
Backman Jordan Butts is set to clear concussion protocol and will challenge Josh Worrell and Nick Murray for a spot.
Youngster Max Michalanney was quiet at Marvel Stadium but provides utility with his medium size and excellent one-on-one play.
Crows forward Lachie Murphy (four touches) struggled to impact the contest last week, leaving room for tackling machine Sam Berry to play a role against GWS.
Giants Xavier O’Halloran (thumb) and Lachie Keefe (hamstring) both exit the side for Saturday night’s important fixture.
The returning Brent Daniels fills O'Halloran's forward spot, while former captain Phil Davis could make his season debut for Keefe after building form in the VFL.
No. 1 pick Aaron Cadman could make his AFL return with Callum Brown (ten touches) poor against the Hawks.
MORE: AFL Coleman Medal leaderboard 2023
North Melbourne (17th) vs Hawthorn (16th) teams
North Melbourne should regain the experience of Liam Shiels (calf) and the youth of George Wardlaw (illness) in its bottom-table clash with Hawthorn.
The pair are set to replace Jy Simpkin, who went off last week with a concussion, and Paul Curtis, who couldn’t get going against the Cats.
Defender Griffin Logue will be out of the Kangaroos’ side for the season, having suffered an ACL rupture. Backman Aiden Bonar played VFL last week and should get the call-up to replace Logue.
Hawks captain James Sicily returns from suspension and will take the spot of key defender James Blanck, who has entered concussion protocol.
Veteran Luke Breust is expected to be available against the Kangaroos, with Tyler Brockman or Fergus Greene likely exclusions. Brockman failed to hit the goals and found only 11 disposals in the Hawks’ loss last week, though he made a valuable seven tackles.
West Coast (18th) vs Richmond (12th) teams
West Coast had another poor performance against Brisbane last week but should regain valuable leadership in Luke Shuey and Shannon Hurn.
Eagles Tom Cole (seven touches) and Xavier O’Neill (nine touches) are obvious exclusions, while Andrew Gaff struggled with just six possessions as a wingman.
Sam Petrevski-Seton will test this week as he recovers from a hamstring injury, but could replace Gaff, who without the injuries to West Coast’s list would be a likely omission.
Richmond’s Ivan Soldo should earn the callup after Toby Nankervis was suspended for three weeks.
A number of Tigers had quiet outings against Sydney, including defender Tylar Young (six touches) and pressure forward Maurice Rioli (8 touches, two tackles). Both could face pressure from Tyler Sonsie and Hugo Ralphsmith, who have performed well in the VFL.
Debutant Jacob Bauer suffered a hamstring injury in the opening minutes, with midfielder Jack Ross an obvious inclusion after a standout game as the substitute.
