Finals are upon us, with the first weekend of September set to see the competition spread far and wide across the country.

As we enter the final few days before the opening matchup between the Lions and Tigers, several huge selection calls loom for all four matches, with the likes of Dustin Martin, Taylor Adams, Jeremy Cameron and Matt Taberner among those under injury clouds.

With the clock ticking on their need to prove themselves fit for week one, we look at what changes each side is likely to make for their first finals bout following a week's break.

Here are the predicted ins, out and lineups for the opening week of the 2022 AFL Finals series...

Brisbane vs Richmondย 

Thursday, September 1
The Gabba, 7.20pm (AEST)

Brisbane

The Lions have been dealt a blow on the eve of their post-season push, with defender Marcus Adams' prospects of returning to the field this season shattered due to ongoing concussion symptoms. Brisbane will need a win to see either Cam Rayner or Noah Answerth return in 2022 after the pair were both hit with one-game bans following separate incidents in their Round 23 loss to Melbourne. Their absences, coupled with Adams' head knock, will allow the likes of Callum Ah Chee and Ryan Lester to be in the mix, while Jack Payne will hold his role in defence. Mitch Robinson may retain his spot as medical sub.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 05: Callum Ah Chee of the Lions celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2022 AFL Round 12 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Brisbane Lions at Optus Stadium on June 05, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Ins: Callum Ah Chee, Ryan Lester
Outs: Cam Rayner (suspension), Noah Answwerth (suspension)

FB: Jack Payne, Darcy Gardiner, Brandon Starcevich
HB: Keidean Coleman, Harris Andrews, Daniel Rich
C: Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale, Callum Ah Chee
HF: Zac Bailey, Eric Hipwood, Daniel McStay
FF: Lincoln McCarthy, Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron
FO: Oscar McInerney, Jarryd Lyons, Jarrod Berry
INT: Jaxon Prior, Rhys Mathieson, Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester

EMG:ย Darcy Fort, Nakia Cockatoo, Mitch Robinson, Harry Sharp

Richmond

The Tigers will likely welcome back superstar Dustin Martin from an ongoing battle with a hamstring issue, and just in time for September. The triple Norm Smith Medal winner will force someone out of the side, with no injuries sustained in their Round 23 win over Essendon that are worth noting. Tom Lynch has been deemed fit to play despite a groin niggle, while a leg injury for Noah Cumberland won't see the Richmond rookie sidelined. Jack Ross could be the unlucky man, but may be seen as a fit for the medical sub role. Jack Graham (foot) will need to prove his fitness but looks unlikely, while Dylan Grimes (hamstring) remains multiple weeks away.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 29: Dustin Martin of the Tigers celebrates during the 2018 AFL round six match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 29, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Ins: Dustin Martinย 
Outs: Jack Ross

FB: Nick Vlastuin, Robbie Tarrant, Nathan Broad
HB: Daniel Rioli, Noah Balta, Jayden Short
C: Kamdyn McIntosh, Trent Cotchin, Marlion Pickett
HF: Shai Bolton, Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards
FF: Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch, Noah Cumberland
FO: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Liam Baker
INT: Josh Gibcus, Maurice Rioli, Ben Miller, Tyler Sonsie

EMG:ย Ivan Soldo, Jack Ross, Hugo Ralphsmith, Jason Castagna

Melbourne vs Sydney

Friday, September 2
MCG, 7:50pm (AEST)

Melbourne

The Demons may only need to reverse the sole change they made for Round 23, with Christian Salem returning to the side in place of young backman Jake Bowey. Medical sub James Jordon may hold that role for the qualifying final, while Bowey, Kade Chandler and returning swingman Tom McDonald will also be in contention. Luke Jackson's calf injury against the Lions doesn't look severe enough to keep him sidelined.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 18: Christian Salem and Christian Petracca of the Demons celebrate winning the round five AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Melbourne Demons at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Ins: Christian Salem
Outs:ย Jake Bowey

FB: Christian Salem, Steven May, Harrison Petty
HB: Jayden Hunt, Jake Lever, Michael Hibberd
C: Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Ed Langdon
HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Brown, Bayley Fritsch
FF: Jake Melksham, Luke Jackson, Kysaiah Pickett
FO: Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Jack Viney
INT: James Harmes, Charlie Spargo, Trent Rivers, Tom Sparrow

EMG:ย Jake Bowey, James Jordon, Tom McDonald, Kade Chandler

Sydney

With their finals bout against Melbourne fixtured for Friday, Sydney's livewire Tom Papley will be able to exit concussion protocols in time, should symptoms desist. It will likely mean the Swans enter the game unchanged, with Round 23 medical sub Sam Wicks again held to the emergencies. Ruckman Peter Ladhams will spend multiple weeks on the sidelines due to a suspension collected from the VFL over the weekend.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: Tomย Papley of the Swans shows his emotion during the round seven AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Geelong Cats at Sydney Cricket Ground on May 01, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Ins: N/A
Outs: N/A

FB: Tom McCartin, Dane Rampe, Jake Lloyd
HB: Robbie Fox, Paddy McCartin, Nick Blakey
C: Ryan Clarke, Callum Mills, Oliver Florent
HF: Errol Gulden, Lance Franklin, Will Hayward
FF: Tom Papley, Logan McDonald, Isaac Heeney
FO: Tom Hickey, Luke Parker, Chad Warner
INT: James Rowbottom, Sam Reid, Justin McInerney, Dylan Stephens

EMG:ย Sam Wicks, Braeden Campbell, Joel Amartey, Ben Ronke

Geelong vs Collingwood

Saturday, September 3
MCG, 4:35pm (AEST)

Geelong

There's plenty to play out in the days leading up to the weekend, with a big watch on Geelong spearhead Jeremy Cameron and his hamstring issue. Cameron, along with Cameron Guthrie (shoulder), Rhys Stanley (groin) and Jake Kolodjashnij (concussion) are seen to be likely to line up for the Cats. An issue with Mitch Duncan's back could see him remain sidelined, while Sam Menegola is also tipped to be on the outer of the best 22 and could be named as medical sub. With Stanley and Cameron returning, their selection could spell omissions for Esava Ratugolea and Jonathon Ceglar. Having been named medical sub against the Eagles two weeks ago, Tom Atkins is likely to be named as an inclusion, with Gryan Miers potentially the one to make way.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Rhys Stanley of the Cats competes for the ball against Nick Larkey of the Kangaroos during the round eight AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Geelong Cats at Marvel Stadium on May 12, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Ins: Jeremy Cameron, Rhys Stanley,ย 
Outs: Esava Ratugolea, Jonathon Ceglar, Gryan Miers

FB: Jake Kolodjashnij, Sam De Koning, Tom Stewart
HB: Jed Bews, Jack Henry, Zach Tuohy
C: Isaac Smith, Joel Selwood, Max Holmes
HF: Brandan Parfitt, Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield
FF: Tyson Stengle, Tom Hawkins, Bradley Close
FO: Rhys Stanley, Tom Atkins, Cameron Guthrie
INT: Mark Blicavs, Gary Rohan, Zach Guthrie, Mark O'Connor

EMG:ย Sam Menegola, Gryan Miers, Cooper Stephens, Jonathon Ceglar

Collingwood

Taylor Adams will need to prove his fitness in the days leading up to Saturday's final, with a groin injury sustained in Round 20 having kept him sidelined for close to a month. Should he be deemed fit, young midfielder Finlay Macrae is the likely omission. Macrae would join the likes of Ollie Henry, Josh Carmichael, Trent Bianco and Nathan Kreuger as emergency and medical sub options.

Taylor Adams during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between St Kilda and Collingwood (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

Ins: Taylor Adams
Outs: Finlay Macrae

FB: Jeremy Howe, Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard
HB: Isaac Quaynor, Nathan Murphy, Nick Daicos
C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Josh Daicos
HF: Jordan De Goey, Ashley Johnson, Jamie Elliott
FF: Beau McCreery, Brody Mihocek, Jack Ginnivan
FO: Darcy Cameron, Jack Crisp, Taylor Adams
INT: Patrick Lipinski, Mason Cox, Will Hoskin-Elliott, John Noble

EMG:ย Oliver Henry, Finlay Macrae, Josh Carmichael, Trent Bianco

Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs

Saturday, September 3
Optus Stadium, 8:10pm (AEST)

Fremantleย 

Fremantle is another side who will be sweating on the fitness for multiple key figures, however, the Dockers are likely to be near full fitness with Griffin Logue (groin), Rory Lobb (shoulder) and Matt Taberner (calf) all in the mix. Taberner is the biggest watch in still needing to prove his fitness, with Logue and Lobb seen as near certainties to play. The trio of inclusions would see Lloyd Meek demoted to the emergencies, potentially along with Brandon Walker and Bailey Banfield, with the latter again taking on medical sub duties.

Griffin Logue during the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between Richmond and Fremantle (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

Ins: Griffin Logue, Rory Lobb, Matt Taberner
Outs:ย Lloyd Meek, Bailey Banfield, Brandon Walker

FB: Luke Ryan, Brennan Cox, Heath Chapman
HB: Jordan Clark, Alex Pearce, Hayden Young
C: Blake Acres, Caleb Serong, James Aish
HF: Nat Fyfe, Rory Lobb, Michael Frederick
FF: Lachlan Schultz, Matt Taberner, Sam Switkowski
FO: Sean Darcy, Andrew Brayshaw, Will Brodie
INT: Griffin Logue, Nathan O'Driscoll, David Mundy, Michael Walters

EMG:ย Bailey Banfield, Darcy Tucker, Lloyd Meek, Brandon Walker

Western Bulldogs

Luke Beveridge has a handful of selection calls to make, with none bigger than Alex Keath's potential return. The Dogs' key defender was dropped for Round 22 and didn't make a return in the club's must-win matchup with the Hawks a week later. Does Beveridge bring him in given the likelihood of facing a trio of Fremantle talls? Keath's inclusion could spell an axing for Laitham Vandermeer, who would be in contention for the medical sub spot alongside Rhylee West, Robbie McComb and Lachlan McNeil. Having trained away from the main group on Monday, there may be a watch on Bailey Smith ahead of Thursday night's selection. Dasher Jason Johannisen looks to be at least another week away as he battles an ankle injury.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 13: (L-R) Ryan Gardner, Alex Keath and Stefan Martin of the Bulldogs in action during the Western Bulldogs training session at Optus Stadium on September 13, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Ins: Alex Keath
Outs: Laitham Vandermeer

FB: Ryan Gardner, Alex Keath, Taylor Duryea
HB: Bailey Dale, Zaine Cordy, Caleb Daniel
C: Bailey Smith, Tom Liberatore, Adam Treloar
HF: Lachie Hunter, Aaron Naughton, Josh Dunkley
FF: Cody Weightman, Josh Bruce, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
FO: Tim English, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli
INT: Bailey Williams, Ed Richards, Sam Darcy, Roarke Smith

EMG: Laitham Vandermeer, Robbie McComb, Rhylee West, Lachlan McNeil