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IT will be a busy day in match committee at Alberton on Thursday, with selectors requiring at least five players to replace injuries and suspensions.
The contrast couldn’t be greater for the team from Kardinia Park with one of the shortest injury lists in the league.
PortAdelaideFC.com.au takes a look at who is in line for selection for both Port Adelaide and Geelong ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Who would you pick? Have your say at the bottom of the article or select your Best 22 here
Port Adelaide
With one of the longest injury lists in the league and the added blow of losing Matt Thomas to suspension, the Power will name at least eight inclusions in a squad of 25 on Thursday afternoon.
This opens the door for a host of players to return to AFL action against the Cats.
John Butcher looks to be a certain replacement for Jay Schulz in the forward line, despite the 20-year-old being rested from the SANFL on the weekend.
Butcher completed extra training sessions over the bye week and is a like-for-like replacement for the club’s leading goalkicker.
Daniel Stewart pushed his claims for a spot up forward with a four goal performance for North Adelaide, which earned him the SANFL Player of the Week award.
The big man also spent time in the ruck and could provde some versatility to the Power side on Sunday.
[ Related: SANFL report ]
Matt Lobbe also impressed at local level, dominating the ruck for West in an effort that is sure to put pressure on young ruckman Jarrad Redden.
Exactly how many talls the match committee is prepared to play could determine the fate of Stewart and Lobbe.
Alipate Carlile missed training on Tuesday with a calf complaint, but is expected to be put through his paces on Thursday morning and would be a logical replacement for Jackson Trengove.
Bobby will have to get through training and meet the professional standards, which kept him out of Round 12, to prove he’s right to play against the Cats.
If he doesn’t get up for the game, Nathan Blee will be a chance to make his AFL debut.
The 21-year-old mature-age recruit from East Perth has been consistent all year for North Adelaide’s league team and assistant coach Brad Gotch gave him high praise in his mid-season review of the backline.
Cam O’Shea has also been impressive for South Adelaide over the past month and his ability to play a variety of positions, along with his elite running capacity could see him take a spot on the final 22.
[ Related: Forward line mid-season review ]
Meanwhile, rookie Tom Jonas would be an outside possibility or earning a promotion to the senior list for Sunday’s game.
The club has two spots on the senior list available and the big-bodied Jonas would provide another defensive option for backline coach Gotch.
With no Travis Boak, Dom Cassisi, Robbie Gray, Matt Thomas or Hamish Hartlett in the midfield, David Rodan - who kicked the match-winner for Norwood on the weekend - and Aaron Young will fancy their chances of earning a re-call.
[ Related: Injury update ]
Neither Rodan or Young were standouts for their respective SANFL sides, they’ve been consistent enough to suggest they can do a job for midfield coaches Shaun Rehn and Josh Carr.
With Cam Hitchcock another injury casualty, Simon Phillips will be first in line should the selectors opt for another small forward option.
Phillips was quiet for the Redlegs in a scrappy game against West but has shown his abilities as a goal sneak who can provide added defensive pressure.
Geelong
Don’t expect too many changes at the selection table for the Cats, despite a narrow loss to the Swans at the SCG.
The Cats have one of the league’s shortest injury lists and a settled, experienced line-up.
Perhaps the biggest chance to come in is mature-age ruckman Orren Stephensen, who was one of the best for Geelong’s VFL side in their big win over the Northern Blues.
Experienced small forward Shannon Byrnes, onballer Simon Hogan and young, dashing defender George Horlin-Smith were the other players to stand out in the VFL and perhaps put their names up for selection.
Port Adelaide and Geelong will name their teams at 5.55pm on Thursday afternoon. You can see them first here.
Full injury lists
Port Adelaide
Travis Boak, foot - 1 week
Dom Cassisi, hip flexor - 1 week
Steven Salopek, knee - 1-2 weeks
Mitch Banner, knee - 2-3 weeks
Jackson Trengove, finger - 3-4 weeks
Hamish Hartlett, hamstring - 4 weeks
Jay Schulz, abdomen - 4-6 weeks
Robbie Gray, knee - season
Cameron Hitchcock, hamstring - 4 weeks
Geelong
Travis Varcoe, foot - indefinite
Nathan Vardy, hip - indefinite
Daniel Menzel, knee - season
Josh Cowan, achilles - indefinite
