AFL finals could still be on the cards for the Western Bulldogs, but that won't be possible unless they take care of Hawthorn in Tasmania.
While the high-stakes ramifications of Carlton's do-or-die clash with Collingwood have hogged headlines, that game would mean nothing to the Blues if the Dogs were to fall to the Hawks.
Currently one game back from the Blues, the Bulldogs would be likely to make up the 0.9 per cent difference between the sides if they were to join them on 48 premiership points, setting things up for a blockbuster Sunday.
They've recalled big forward Josh Bruce after a week off against GWS, joining Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan as the side's key weapons inside 50.
Lachie McNeil has been left out.
Hawthorn will debut 19-year-old Ned Long and 20-year-old Jack Saunders, with Jarman Impey (ankle injury) and Jacob Koschitzke (dropped) making way.
Realistically, the Bulldogs would expect to be too strong for a Hawthorn line-up that is 8-13 for the season, although gun defender James Sicily hoped his side would lift to say farewell to ruckman Ben McEvoy.
McEvoy will retire after 252 games and two premierships, won with the Hawks in 2014 and 2015.
"Someone like him to be retiring, we'd want him to go out on a good note," Sicily told reporters.
"That would be just a good way to send him off and the way he should be really sent off.
"There'll be plenty of excitement for our debutants and then obviously his last game."
Sicily will wrap up his own impressive campaign, having played every game after missing 18 months with an ACL injury.
"I've just been really grateful to be back playing footy, obviously I missed a fair chunk of time and to be back having fun and playing footy again is really (good)," he said.
"I didn't really have any external goals this year other than to just find my feet again ... I've been been happy with how I've been able to play."
