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An out-of-sorts Waubra will unleash James Lukich in Saturday's qualifying final against Buninyong.
The Roos have named Lukich to return to the senior side eight weeks after he suffered a serious leg injury during the round 10 battle with Carngham-Linton.
There were fears that the season was over for the star onballer/forward, but he has worked hard to recover and get back for the opening round of the Central Highlands Football League finals series.
Lukich, a former VFL player with the North Ballarat Roosters, set the competition alight before his injury with 47 goals and a stack of best-on-ground performances.
Waubra coach Matt James said Lukich could have played last weekend against Gordon and would be right to go this Saturday against the Bombers.
James' charges went the opening 14 rounds of the season unbeaten, but lost the last three against Newlyn, Buninyong and Gordon to slip from top spot to fourth on the eve of finals.
Three-straight defeats is hardly the ideal preparation for the Roos, but James is hopeful his team can turn around its fortunes against the in-form Bombers this weekend.
"I think if we can play our style of footy and get going we can give them a real shake," he said.
Waubra has made three changes to the team that was beaten by the Eagles last Saturday.
Important duo Dean Robertson and Jarred Crabtree are also back in the side, with Glen Coleman the most notable absentee with a groin issue.
Buninyong has been forced to leave out Morgan Turner, who suffered a broken jaw in round 17.
The big inclusion is that of ruckman Liam Rigby, who has been battling a leg issue for a couple of weeks.
The other qualifying final this weekend pits Newlyn against Gordon at Ballarat's City Oval.
Sewell brothers Adam and Myles have missed the last two matches through injury, but return to a Cats outfit that also gets back Tristan May.
Newlyn joint coach Dan Wehrung is oozing confidence ahead of his side's tilt at the finals.
"We are confident. You have to be I think. You get to this point for a reason," he said.
For the Eagles, co-captain Mark Gunnell has been named to play despite being carried off the ground on a stretcher and spending time in hospital last Saturday following a blow to the back.
Scott Nippress was the sole inclusion for Gordon at the selection table on Thursday night, coming in at the expense of Zachary Cattlin.
Eagles coach Ron Watt was pleased with the form his team has shown heading into finals.
"I think the way the players are going about what they have to do has been really positive," Watt said.
Over at Hepburn, coach Clive Raak has ruled a line through star Andy McKay playing in this Sunday's elimination final with Skipton.
McKay injured a knee during a clash with Beaufort in late June and has been sidelined ever since.
Important trio Tommy Horne, Finn Anscombe and Kenny Cummings didn't play in round 17, but are back to boost the Burras this weekend.
The Emus, which have made a CHFL finals series for the first time since joining the league in 2011, have been badly hit by injury.
A host of top players will be missing for this clash, but there's a chance Andrew Pitson will play underdone. Pitson has not figured for Skipton since hurting a hamstring in the round 14 encounter against Bungaree.
Injury clouds hang over the heads of Springbank stars Billy Driscoll and Johnathan O'Brien, but both have been named to play in the knockout game with reigning premiers Beaufort.
Driscoll had surgery on a broken hand last week, while O'Brien is battling a sore knee.
Among the ins is Maher brothers Brett (quadriceps) and Joel (overseas) and key forward Mitch Keighrey, who has overcome a hamstring issue.
For the Crows, which have won their last eight games, Lachlan Pfeifer, Jarrod Trigg, Josh McDermott and Alex Coleman all return this Sunday.
SELECTED SIDES
SENIORS
BUNINYONG v. WAUBRA
Buninyong
B: L. Baker, D. Connor, I. Baker
HB: L. Cullen, G. Younger, A. Bomitali
C: J. Dunne, H. Givvens, T. Brayshaw
HF: C. Barrenger, J. Lee, N. Gilbert
F: S. Russell, N. Shell, D. Kelly
R: , J. Romeril, L. Rigby, J. Morgan
Int: J. Robertson, J. Rodgers, D. Micallef, F. Hunt
Emg: A. Hart, J. Heslop, A. Scott
In: D. Connor, L. Rigby
Out: M. Turner, J. Heslop
Waubra
B: B. McDonald, J. Petrie, J. Crawford
HB: A. McPherson, G. Lukich, J. Kinna
C: D. Payne , J. Lukich, W. Corbett
HF: A. Wettenhall, D. Robertson, C. McGrath
F: J. Crabtree, J. Coleman, A. Murphy
R: R. Head, L. Barnes, T. Nash
Int: B. Wilson, D. Jenkins, N. Moran, W. Booth
Emg: G. Coleman
In: J. Lukich, J. Crabtree, D. Robertson
Out: J. Leman, H. Baldwinson, G. Coleman
HEPBURN v. SKIPTON
Hepburn
B: H. Rodgers, S. Wood, N. Johns
HB: J. Fowler, J. Lockwood, B. Coffey
C: M. McKay, A. Ware, Z. Kupsch
HF: A. Ferrier, R. Jenkins, M. Eastman
F: J. Hogan, S. Dunstan, B. McKay
R: N. Dunstan, D. Klimeck, D. O'Halloran
Int: T. Wills, J. Malone, B. Johns, J. Clarke
Skipton
B: A. Mason, X. Lourey, B. Krol
HB: J. Appleby, A. Fay, M. Hoare
C: L. Stranks, B. Thompson, L. Bell
HF: A. Romey, C. Townrow, J. Peeters
F: M. Bruns, A. Pitson, B. Uwland
R: J. Peters, B. Draffin, J. Draffin
Int: R. Uwland, T. Huglin, W. Fay, M. Madden
In: M. Madden, A. Pitson
Out: F. Morcombe, M. Smith
NEWLYN v. GORDON
Newlyn
B: J. Willmott, C. Edwards, M. Cosgrave
HB: A. Sewell, W. Carter, B. Bish
C: L. Bull, M. Sewell, J. Milne
HF: P. Parr, D. Lourey, T. May
F: D. Fishwick, M. Darmody, D. Wehrung
R: L. Campana, S. Clifton, L. Prendergast
Int: S. Carey, L. Gill, J. Fryar, F. Lowe
In: T. May, M. Sewell, A. Sewell
Out: C. Prendergast, L. Bell, F. Hay
Gordon
B: M. Gunnell, J. Evans, S. Nippress
HB: B. Hallam, L. Gunnell, G. Clifford
C: B. Frazer, M. Raworth, B. Horsham
HF: I. McCabe, A. Toohey, J. Murphy
F: T. Murphy, B. Sutcliffe, M. Nolan
R: Z. May, J. Clampit, M. Hoy
Int: E. Crackel, J. Maher, J. Gorman, R. Clampit
In: S. Nippress
Out: Z. Cattlin
BEAUFORT v. SPRINGBANK
Beaufort
B: L. Cox, B. Howard, D. Day
HB: D. Kelly, D. Morris, l. marshall
C: J. Chester, M. Foster, J. Orr
HF: A. Beer, L. Murray, L. Pfeifer
F: J. Mason, J. Trigg, J. Garvey
R: J. McDermott, N. Sullivan, R. Sangster
Int (from): M. Jenkins, A. Coleman, A. Petrie, L. Ward, Z. Leckie
Emg: J. Slater, J. Blackburn
In: L. Pfeifer, J. Trigg, J. McDermott, A. Coleman
Out: J. Peacock, J. Slater, J. Blackburn
Springbank
B: S. McKenzie, N. Strugnell, S. Quinlan
HB: S. Donegan, P. Lewis, S. Cue
C: M. Otto, J. Maher, B. Beasley
HF: M. Keighrey, J. Simpson, J. Thompson
F: M. Lakey, T. Horan, W. Driscoll
R: J. O'Brien, T. Finco, K. Maher
Int: W. McGannon, K. Kennedy, B. Maher, F. Donegan
In: S. McKenzie, S. Donegan, J. Maher, M. Keighrey, J. O'Brien, K. Kennedy, B. Maher
Out: M. Searl, C. Winter, T. Knowles, J. White, K. Maher, L. Mahar, C. Vaughan
RESERVES
BUNINYONG v. NEWLYN
Buninyong
B: T. Solomon, J. Barnett, Z. Miller
HB: L. Van Rooy, A. Hart, A. Wiltshire
C: D. Dickson, L. Dean, Z. Whykes
HF: M. Hartigan, N. Miller, D. Donelly
F: B. Leskosek, C. Wills, M. Phelps
R: J. Heslop, P. Lannen, L. Burbidge
Int: L. Burn, P. McGrath, T. Paterson, J. Hart
Newlyn
B: R. Glen, J. Green, L. Fishwick
HB: C. Eastwell, L. Allen, B. Wills
C: J. Cassells, C. Prendergast, J. Barker
HF: F. Hay, S. Cawthan, L. Shaw
F: L. Bell, M. Dodds, J. Eastwell
R: J. Sullivan, J. Bish, D. Wrigley
Int (from): C. Brosnan-Colvin, N. David, L. Orr, J. Burgess, R. Wynd
Emg: J. Dwyer, A. Galea
DUNNSTOWN v. SKIPTON
Dunnstown
B: A. Plucke, N. Duggan, I. Keating
HB: J. Cahir, W. Short, J. Williams
C: L. Guiao, B. Duffy, K. Neville
HF: M. Rae, J. Keating, J. Leoncini
F: D. Simpkin, B. Sinclair, C. Ronan
R: H. Marquand, C. Murphy, J. Mann
Int: N. Sammons, T. Giles, X. Jones, B. Dunwoodie
Skipton
B: T. Bertalli, L. Parker, J. Kirkpatrick
HB: A. Bedggood, S. Peeters, B. Garritty
C: S. Dunn, A. McLean, J. McPhan
HF: R. Simmonds, S. Robson, J. Robson
F: L. Wilkie, M. Smith, M. Smith
R: D. Hopkinson, F. Morcombe, B. Smith
Int: T. Gawne, A. Morcombe, H. Young, L. Crick
Emg: D. Lockens, N. Elford, T. Bates
SPRINGBANK v. CRESWICK
Springbank
B: J. Waller, J. Kennedy, T. Knowles
HB: T. Haintz, S. Basilone, S. Wethling
C: L. Mahar, M. Hodge, D. Haintz
HF: S. Baldwin, J. Bowen, C. Winter
F: Y. Reath, T. Toohey, J. Tiley
R: R. Conroy, B. O'Neil, T. Maher
Int: C. Vaughan, V. Philip, T. O'Loughlin, J. White
Creswick
B: N. Sutton, R. Knowles, J. Allison
HB: B. Antonio, J. Hepworth, P. Hofman
C: C. Mann, P. Phillips, N. Cochrane
HF: T. Goss, L. Walker, B. Hagen
F: Z. Lubeek, T. Randall, J. Ellis
R: J. Plier, M. Griffin, M. Gervasoni
Int (from): G. Van Oostveen, D. Grinham, J. Dalli, A. Tofant, T. Rieniets, D. Romeril, W. McNabb
GORDON v. HEPBURN
Gordon
From: S. Miller, D. Hunt, C. Elliott, M. Anderson, R. Cording, M. Conder, D. Callanan, G. Busuttil, K. Gall, S. Nicholson, I. Bowker, Z. White, B. Quinlan, B. Schiltz, L. Toohey, M. Kersley, C. Myers, B. Morshead, M. Spezza, J. Toohey, M. Labbett, J. Gartner
Hepburn
B: R. Ford, K. Hartmann, B. Pedretti
HB: M. Johns, J. Barnes, Z. Kupsch
C: T. Nissen, J. Peake, A. Raak
HF: N. Purtell, T. Robertson, k. lipplegoes
F: M. Chapman, S. Carman, M. Eastman
R: T. Brown, J. Malone, J. Liversidge
Int (from): M. Piper, J. Portyka Stone, R. Olver, R. McClutchie, T. Eastman, J. O'Hara