The time for resting stars and experimenting with structures is over at unbeaten St Kilda and second-placed Geelong, three weeks from the AFL finals.
All eight of the top-line Saints who missed last Saturday's win over Hawthorn were named in the squad for Sunday's Docklands stadium match against Essendon.
While Sam Gilbert was already out of the side through injury, the seven others were left out for the trip to Launceston.
Captain Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna, Brendon Goddard, Sam Fisher, Nick Dal Santo and Steven Baker, along with Gilbert, were included in Sunday's squad.
The Saints said all seven omissions last week were injured or ill, but it was also clearly an exercise in freshening up top players ahead of September.
''It's great to welcome a number of our key players back after missing last week's match with injury,'' St Kilda football manager Greg Hutchison said. ''They all trained well and proved to the match committee that they were ready to make their return.''
Andrew McQualter is injured, while Ben McEvoy, Robert Eddy, Colm Begley and Jarryn Geary were dropped.
McEvoy is particularly unlucky after his strong game against the Hawks.
While the Cats welcomed back key defenders Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor from injury, Mark Blake was a notable inclusion.
The Cats dropped Blake after the round-15 loss to Brisbane and then experimented with Shane Mumford as their only specialist ruckman.
Blake impressed last weekend in the VFL and immediately returned to the seniors.
Geelong brought back David Johnson for tomorrow night's ANZ Stadium game against Sydney, which is suddenly back in finals contention.
Darren Milburn and David Wojcinski are out with ankle injuries, Max Rooke has a sore knee and Kane Tenace was dropped.
The Swans lost Jarrad McVeigh with a hamstring injury and promoted veteran Leo Barry for his first senior game of the season.
Midfielder Shane Savage will be the sixth Hawthorn player to make his senior debut this season when the Hawks play Adelaide tonight at the MCG.
The Hawks also regained top onballer Brad Sewell along with Jarryd Morton and Beau Muston.
Jarryd Roughead will miss the rest of the season with knee surgery, while Beau Dowler, Tom Murphy and Brendan Whitecross were dropped.
Injury-plagued Adelaide forward Trent Hentschel is playing for his career after his recall and Rory Sloane will make his AFL debut.
Brett Burton has a gluteal muscle injury and Taylor Walker was dropped.
In-form Collingwood lost Tyson Goldsack with an Achilles injury for tomorrow's MCG match against Richmond and recalled Sharrod Wellingham.
Joel Bowden comes into Richmond's side for his retirement game and Shane Tuck was also recalled.
Brisbane lost Troy Selwood with a neck injury for its crucial clash against the Western Bulldogs tomorrow night. Travis Johnstone will take Selwood's spot.
The Bulldogs responded to last weekend's shock loss to West Coast by dropping Brennan Stack and Andrejs Everitt.
Forwards Robert Murphy and Scott Welsh return, along with Liam Picken, while Daniel Cross is recovering from ankle surgery.
The Bombers included Andrew Welsh and Andrew Lovett, along with Cale Hooker and Tom Bellchambers, in their squad for the Saints match.
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