Geelong small forward Paul Chapman has returned for the AFL finals, hoping his hamstrings serve him better than this time last year.

The Cats recalled Chapman and Travis Varcoe for Saturday's MCG qualifying final against the Western Bulldogs and also named Max Rooke (corked thigh) and David Wojcinski (ankle).

They dropped Ryan Gamble and Simon Hogan.

Like last year, Chapman has suffered hamstring trouble ahead of September.

He needed two games off after kicking six goals in the round-18 win over Adelaide, but hurt his hamstring again in the round-21 loss to the Bulldogs and sat out last weekend's win over Fremantle.

Varcoe returns from a shoulder injury and Rooke and Wojcinski were also listed during the week as requiring tests, but Cats football manager Neil Balme is confident the quartet will play.

"There's still another training session tomorrow and obviously they have to get through that," Balme said.

"We'd be pretty confident all of them will get up for Saturday."

Last year, a hamstring injury sidelined Chapman through rounds 18 to 20.

He suffered more hamstring trouble in the qualifying-final win over St Kilda and missed the preliminary final, returning for the grand final loss to Hawthorn.

Chapman is one of the Cats' toughest and most important players.

At this stage only Steve Johnson is missing from their best 22 for Saturday's game as he recovers from hip surgery, with Geelong hopeful he will return at some stage during the finals.

But the match fitness of some Geelong players remains in question after their unimpressive last few weeks of the regular season.

The Bulldogs also made two changes, recalling Ryan Griffen and Ben Hudson for Andrejs Everitt and Sam Reid.

Adelaide will not risk key defender Nathan Bock for Friday night's home elimination final against Essendon as he recovers from a heel injury.

They also left out midfielder Nathan van Berlo (back) and recalled Richard Douglas.

The Bombers brought in Courtenay Dempsey, former Crow Hayden Skipworth and Tom Bellchambers for suspended trio Matthew Lloyd, Patrick Ryder and Sam Lonergan.

After Brisbane coach Michael Voss declared five players were unlikely starters for Saturday night's home elimination final against Carlton, four of them were named in the team.

The Lions recalled Daniel Bradshaw and Daniel Merrett, while Simon Black and Josh Drummond retained their spots.

Jed Adcock (knee) is the only player out of Voss' five concerns earlier this week who will not play at this stage.

The Blues recalled trio Eddie Betts, Cameron Cloke and Jeff Garlett, who missed last week through a club suspension for arriving late to a training session.

They also included Shaun Grigg, while Steven Browne, Chris Johnson, Setanta O'hAilpin and Chris Yarran were left out.

Some big names have joined the squads for Sunday's St Kilda-Collingwood qualifying final at the MCG.

Luke Ball and Max Hudghton were included as they try to break back into the senior side, while Michael Gardiner (hamstring) was also named.

Jarryn Geary was the other addition to the squad of 25 and Ben McEvoy was dropped.

Top Magpies midfielder Scott Pendlebury (back) was added, along with Nathan and Leigh Brown and Steele Sidebottom, while Tyson Goldsack was dropped.

But veteran Magpies key forward Anthony Rocca remains unable to break back into the senior team.

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