West Coast's AFL semi-final hopes have received a massive boost with the inclusion of star rover Daniel Kerr.

The Eagles host Carlton in their knockout semi-final at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.

Kerr has been heavily restricted by injuries in the past three seasons, including a massive hamstring tear in round four of 2010 which ended his season.

The 2007 All-Australian missed his third successive match when he was a late withdrawal from last week's selected side for the club's qualifying final loss to Collingwood at the MCG.

Averaging 24.1 disposals in 14 games in 2011, Kerr will link up with champion ruckman Dean Cox, who spent the final quarter of last week's game sitting on the bench icing a back complaint.

Cox has been passed fit to play and West Coast have made only one change, dropping Brad Ebert to make way for the 28-year-old Kerr.

Kerr and Cox combined in West Coast's 2006 grand-final win over Sydney.

The third member of West Coast's on-ball trio that day, Chris Judd, will line up with the Blues.

Brownlow Medal favourite Judd, who is in his fourth season with the Blues, is expected to be the subject of fierce barracking from the Eagles fans.

The Blues have recalled Irishman Zac Tuohy for Bryce Gibbs, who kicked three goals last week against Essendon but suffered a shoulder injury in the final term.

Saturday night's match will be just Tuohy's 11th in his debut season and his first taste of finals football.

Carlton ruled out ruckman-forward Matt Kreuzer, who is still battling a foot injury which kept him out of last week's elimination-final win over Essendon.

Hawthorn's determination to bolster their defence has led to the inclusion of young backman Ben Stratton for Friday night's semi-final against Sydney at the MCG.

The selection of Stratton is a gamble for the Hawks.

Stratton, 22, made a senior comeback a fortnight ago in a "dead-rubber" game against Gold Coast in round 24 after suffering a serious knee injury in round three.

The 189cm Stratton was given another run at VFL reserves level last week.

Hawthorn's defence was cut to shreds by Geelong's marking power last Friday night.

The Hawks also named star forward Lance Franklin, despite a massive doubt over the Coleman Medallist's fitness after he suffered bone bruising to his knee in the clash with the Cats.

However the 196cm Jordan Lisle, who is one of Hawthorn's three emergencies, is likely to come into the side if Franklin is a last-minute withdrawal.

The Hawks dropped small forward Luke Breust for Stratton.

The unlucky Breust has kicked 30 goals in his debut season after being recruited from Temora in NSW.

Sydney are unchanged as they look to celebrate co-captain Adam Goodes' 300-game milestone.

Gary Rohan (knee) and Dan Hannebery (shoulder) have been passed fit to play after suffering injuries in Sydney's elimination-final win over St Kilda last week.

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