Essendon and Brisbane have pulled major surprises for the weekend's AFL semi-finals, with Lions captain Michael Voss named and forgotten Bomber Paul Barnard recalled.

Voss's miraculous healing power was there for all to see at training and, three days after coach Leigh Matthews ruled him out, the star onballer was named to lead the Lions against a full-strength Adelaide at the Gabba on Friday night.

Voss aggravated a knee complaint in last Saturday night's loss to Collingwood and Matthews said on Monday he was highly unlikely to play the Crows.

Matthews said the captain had proved his fitness enough to at least play at "Michael Voss's level", although that would not be at 100 per cent.

"We think 100 per cent is probably unrealistic but that's as much to do with conditioning process, his history over the last couple of months," Matthews said.

"But we're confident he's well in the 90 per cents, otherwise we wouldn't be playing him."

Barnard, who announced just before Essendon's win over Fremantle last Friday that this season would be his last, has been named to play Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

The thirty-year-old - who has not played an AFL game since round 17 - replaces suspended fullback Dustin Fletcher.

There was some bad news for the Lions with vice-captain Chris Scott lost to groin soreness and utility Tim Notting to suspension.

Small forward Craig McRae has recovered from a hamstring strain and comes in with youngster Richard Hadley, playing just his second game and the first since round three of 2001.

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