Collingwood's bid to avoid a straight-sets exit from the AFL finals will rest on youth after injury forced four stars out of Saturday night's semi-final against Adelaide at the MCG.

As expected, the Magpies ruled out midfielder Scott Pendlebury (fractured fibula) and key forward Anthony Rocca (ankle), who were both hurt in last Sunday's loss to St Kilda.

But ruckman Josh Fraser (knee) and first-year midfielder Dayne Beams (calf) will also be missing, along with dropped small forward John McCarthy.

The Pies put their faith in younger players, with ruckman Cameron Wood winning a reprieve, along with small forwards Brad Dick and Brent Macaffer, defender Tyson Goldsack and winger Sharrod Wellingham.

The Brisbane Lions will enter the other semi-final, against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night, confident about the players who were under recent injury clouds.

Lions coach Michael Voss declared captain Jonathan Brown a certain starter despite the facial injury he suffered last Saturday night and added there was no doubt over the fitness of running defenders Jed Adcock and Josh Drummond.

Adcock and Drummond returned to the side alongside veteran Tim Notting, who this week announced his pending retirement.

Midfielder Scott Harding was a forced omission with a foot injury, but fellow onballer Cheynee Stiller and defender Jason Roe were dropped from the side that stormed back to beat Carlton.

Midfielder Simon Black and fullback Daniel Merrett were also named despite their injury worries leading into last week's elimination final against the Blues.

The Bulldogs made one change to the side beaten by Geelong, as midfielder Tim Callan replaced dropped forward Josh Hill.

The Crows also made a sole change, as fit-again tagger Robert Shirley replaced midfielder Richard Douglas following the 96-point demolition of Essendon last Friday night.

Brown arrived in Melbourne and dubbed a "media beat-up" speculation he had suffered a fractured eyesocket in a clash of heads with Carlton's Heath Scotland.

Voss admitted the Lions had some initial concerns with their inspirational skipper, but said there was nothing wrong now.

"I don't know what I've got to do to convince you there's nothing wrong with him," he said.

"There was an early (worry) he may have done some damage to himself and quite bad damage.

"If he does hurt himself I can guarantee you it will be a new injury."

Drummond returns after missing one game through a quad problem, while Adcock will play his first game since injuring a knee in round 15.

"We've got no concerns with Jed whatsoever," Voss said.

"He's one of our leaders, we certainly need his leadership ability when the crowd's going to be nice and loud and we need a bit of direction."

Collingwood ruled out Fraser following his struggles with knee problems over the second half of the season, while Beams was sore after the loss to the Saints and did not recover during the week.

Hill can be deemed unlucky given he has played all 23 games (for 33 goals) so far in 2009, but he was quiet in his past two games.

Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia, speaking before the team was announced, said the club's clear injury sheet meant there had been enormous competition for spots in the side.

The winner of the Bulldogs-Lions clash plays St Kilda and the winner of the Collingwood-Adelaide match takes on Geelong.

This weekend's losers are eliminated.

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