Port Adelaide have rushed back an underdone Todd Marshall for their do-or-die semi-final clash with Hawthorn on Friday night, but defender Ryan Burton has been struck down by injury.
Marshall has struggled with a hip injury since the middle of the season, and the key forward has played just once at AFL level since the issue flared up early against Gold Coast on July 14.
The 25-year-old returned from that setback for the two-point win over Melbourne on August 10, but was subbed out of that game with concussion and hasn't been sighted since.
A mixture of injury and poor form means Marshall has gone goalless in his past four games.
Since kicking five goals against North Melbourne in round 12, Marshall has slotted just three majors from seven games.
But with Port's forward line misfiring and coach Ken Hinkley needing to throw caution to the wind, Marshall has been recalled to face Hawthorn.
"We all know and understand what Todd is capable of at his absolute best," Hinkley said.
"He hasn't had a great run this year to be at his absolute best."
Marshall will line up alongside Charlie Dixon and Mitch Georgiades in a three-pronged attack.
Burton failed a fitness test on his injured calf on Thursday, opening the door for eight-game defender Josh Sinn to earn a recall.
The absence of Burton comes at a bad time for Port, who are already missing Dan Houston (suspension) and Kane Farrell (hamstring) from their defensive set-up.
Port forward Jed McEntee has been axed in the wake of last week's 84-point qualifying final loss to Geelong.
Hawthorn have named Jai Serong to replace key defender Sam Frost, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a foot injury.
Serong has played just four games this season - and only nine in his career - but the 21-year-old is being backed to thrive on the big stage.
"He has been in great form in the VFL for two or three months. He hasn't put a foot wrong," Hawthorn assistant David Hale told reporters.
"I've got great confidence in our backline and our whole team defence system.
"When it came down to picking a player, he's in the right spot at the right time, and he's in good form. It wasn't too hard a decision in the end."
GWS have been boosted by the return of tagger Toby Bedford from a calf injury for Saturday's semi-final against Brisbane at Engie Stadium.
Toby McMullin was the unlucky player to be dropped to make way for Bedford in the Giants' only change.
Brisbane have gone in unchanged following last week's 28-point elimination final win over Carlton, with defender Jack Payne named despite concerns over a knee injury.
The winner of the Power-Hawks match will face Sydney in a preliminary final.
But the Swans will be without captain Callum Mills for that match after he injured his left hamstring at training on Wednesday.
