Despite the AFL's league-wide warning about resting mass players ahead of finals, it seems clubs will be willing to risk potential fines to best prepare their squads for a premiership tilt.
With the top 10 locked in with a round remaining, every finals-qualified side will be weighing up the pros and cons of who to play for Round 24, and who to give an extra week's break.
Do minor premiers Fremantle risk messing with its form by resting key players for the Dockers' trip to Melbourne?
How does Collingwood balance bringing back some injured guns, while managing the workload of its stars?
Should Carlton sit back and rest its key players for Wildcard Round, or do the Blues need to win so they can stay in Melbourne?
These are the decisions the finals-bound coaches must make ahead of an intriguing Round 24.
Brisbane
The reigning premiers are one of football's toughest reads in 2026. At times the Lions look pedestrian, and their defence can struggle, but when a game is important, the Brisbane of 2023-25 comes to the fore.
What the Lions are planning for their final home-and-away round should be much easier to pick. Brisbane could potentially drop out of the top four from third and into the Wildcard Round in seventh if things went wrong in its last game.
So Chris Fagan won't be willing to rest many stars when Brisbane faces rival Collingwood at the MCG on Friday.
Star veterans Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale could enjoy a week's break before a tilt at a three-peat.
Young gun Logan Morris could be sore after another season as the club's number one key forward at only 21.
However, none of that trio of players looks like slowing down,n and Brisbane's game is a must-win clash for the club's flag prospects.
Dayne Zorko has faced injury troubles this year but would love to get consistent game time in the build-up to finals.
