Star midfielder Daniel Wells makes a welcome return for a North Melbourne side still short on forward firepower for Saturday night's vital AFL clash against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.

Needing a win to keep their heads above a chasing pack outside the eight, the Kangaroos welcomed back Wells after he missed two games with a knee strain.

But forwards Nathan Thompson and Corey Jones, who were badly missed in the narrow loss to Geelong last Friday night, will again be onlookers this weekend.

Thompson will miss at least one more game after he underwent a knee arthroscopy on Wednesday night, while coach Dean Laidley wants Jones to play in the VFL to prove he has overcome an ankle problem, before he returns to the senior side.

St Kilda and Port Adelaide, the two sides best-placed to force their way into eight if they can get their strike some decent form, also welcomed key onballers into the fray for their pivotal clashes this weekend.

The Saints named veteran Robert Harvey to play Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night, while Shaun Burgoyne will return to the Power line-up to take on Geelong at Skilled Stadium on Sunday after completing a three-game suspension.

Harvey returns after missing last week's loss to the Western Bulldogs with a calf problem, but the focus of the game will be Sydney forward Barry Hall, who will play for the first time since completing his seven-game suspension for striking West Coast's Brent Staker two months ago.

Wells returned with Josh Smith, while Scott McMahon and Leigh Brown were dropped following the loss to Geelong.

Fremantle veteran Shaun McManus has been given the weekend off to rest the troublesome knee hampering him, while the Dockers will also be without Heath Black (suspension) and Scott Thornton and Kepler Bradley (both dropped).

Into the Fremantle side come Roger Hayden, Ryan Murphy, Byron Schammer and Ryley Dunn, elevated off the rookie list.

The Saints also recalled defender Sam Gilbert and ruck Steven King for dropped trio Shane Birss, Leigh Fisher and David Armitage.

Burgoyne's return is a major boost for the Power, who will be without defender Toby Thurstans (knee) and youngster Paul Stewart (neck).

The Cats also could not consider fullback Matthew Scarlett (hamstring) or forward Shannon Byrnes (foot), but gun onballer Joel Selwood and premiership backman Josh Hunt were among the players named on an expanded bench.

Friday night's round-opener between Essendon and West Coast is a battle between two sides struggling with form (2-9) and injury.

The Bombers will be without Bachar Houli (groin), Tayte Pears (foot) and Jason Winderlich (back), but at least regained ruckman Jason Laycock and midfielders Jobe Watson and Adam Ramanauskas.

The Eagles, however, will miss the experienced Michael Braun (knee) and Chad Fletcher (back), who have been rested.

Long-kicking Stuart Dew will be back for Hawthorn in the game of the round against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

Ruckman Brent Renouf will play his first game, replacing Simon Taylor (cut knee), and will oppose Jonathon Griffin who came into Adelaide's side at the expense of forward Ken McGregor.

Star forward Robert Murphy is a welcome return for the Bulldogs in Saturday's game against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG after serving a one-game suspension.

In contrast, the Lions lose in-form forward Daniel Bradshaw to a hamstring injury.

Collingwood and Carlton bolstered their squads for Sunday's MCG clash, with the Pies including midfielder Scott Pendlebury and Blues defender Michael Jamison returning from a shoulder problem.

Richmond coach Terry Wallace made good his threat to experienced players Greg Tivendale and Kayne Pettifer by dumping them from Sunday's game against bottom side Melbourne at Telstra Dome.

Another struggler, Joel Bowden, could also be chopped when the clubs finalise their sides on Friday night.

Richmond will also be without fullback Will Thursfield and utility Jake King due to hamstring injuries, but could debut Alex Rance, the son of former Eagles skipper Murray.

Livewire forward Aaron Davey was one of six players added to the Melbourne squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.

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