Essendon and Brisbane, the 2001 grand final foes who need to keep winning to keep their AFL seasons alive, were boosted by the return of leaders James Hird and Chris Scott.

Hird will return to captain the Bombers against Carlton at the MCG on Saturday after he missed last week's win over Melbourne with a hamstring twang.

Half a game behind the eighth-placed Kangaroos, Essendon will vie for three successive wins for the first time this season to keep up the pressure.

Brisbane needs a win after dropping five of its past seven games and is boosted by the return of tough defender Scott, the Lions' vice-captain who missed last week with a quad strain.

The Kangaroos also received a boost with midfielder David King back from a knee strain for the rematch of the round three thriller, when Lions captain Michael Voss kicked a behind on the final siren to draw the game.

Adelaide forward Wayne Carey returns for Sunday's game of the round against Sydney at AAMI Stadium after missing the past two matches with a badly cut knee.

Crows fullback Nathan Bassett returns from suspension but forward Scott Welsh will miss with a back strain.

Sydney named Adam Goodes as first ruck and will hope young talls James Meiklejohn and Lewis Robert-Thomson can help cover the loss of Jason Ball (dislocated shoulder), who is out for the rest of the season.

Carlton recalled Justin Murphy and Luke Livingston for Karl Norman (ankle) and Barnaby French and named veteran Mick Martyn for his 300th game.

Essendon lost defender Andrew Welsh (shoulder) and dropped utility Paul Barnard and will debut forward Ben Haynes, who started the season on the rookie list.

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