The stakes are enormous, but Port Adelaide will gamble on the fitness of captain Matthew Primus and Collingwood on the form of Leon Davis for Saturday's sell-out AFL preliminary final at the MCG.

With a grand final berth beckoning, Primus was named to lead Port after six games out with knee tendonitis.

His selection gives the Power a three-pronged ruck attack with Dean Brogan and Brendon Lade, who was cleared at the tribunal this week for rough play.

Davis has not played since round 13, but was recalled with tagger Brodie Holland after the pair impressed with Collingwood's VFL affiliate Williamstown last Sunday.

Holland was always expected to return, but Davis' selection was a surprise.

The hot-and-cold goalsneak has kicked 14 goals in six of his 11 games in 2003 but gone goalless in five.

Brisbane will play its first final without Marcus Ashcroft in Saturday night's preliminary final against Sydney at Telstra Stadium, as the veteran could not overcome a knee strain.

Sydney will also gamble on the fitness of key defender Jason Saddington, who returns from a knee injury to replace fellow back Brad Seymour, who injured a knee in the qualifying final win over Port.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse stuck with his plan to select a side best suited for Port and will bank on Davis repeating his form of the finals win over the Power last year when he kicked three goals, including the sealer.

"It's horses for courses and Mick has told them you're always a chance of being picked regardless of how they went the week before," Collingwood football manager Mark Kleiman said.

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