Brisbane's Noah Answerth and Essendon defender Mason Redman are the latest COVID-19 casualties for their AFL game at the Gabba.
Premiership hopefuls Brisbane face a searching test of their AFL depth, with nine players out for the danger game against Essendon.
Noah Answerth became their fifth COVID-19 casualty on Saturday, a day out from the Gabba clash, with James Madden taking his place.
The Bombers are affected as well, with defender Mason Redman also a late withdrawal under the league's health protocols and Jake Kelly taking his place.
The third-placed Lions also have lost four players to injury, while coach Chris Fagan was forced to spend the week away from the club because of COVID-19.
While the Bombers lost star onballer Darcy Parish to a calf injury, they will fancy their chances after upset wins in their past three games over St Kilda and Sydney.
"I'd even go as far to say they're probably favourites at this stage," Fagan said.
The Lions already had lost Harris Andrews, Keidean Coleman, Callum Ah Chee and Dan McStay to the AFL's health and safety protocols, while Dayne Zorko (hamstring), Daniel Rich (hamstring), Jarrod Berry (hamstring) and Jaxon Prior (quad) were ruled out with injury.
Nakia Cockatoo was named for his first senior game since round four, while Mitch Robinson, Tom Fullarton, Harry Sharp, Darcy Fort, and Ryan Lester were also named.
Debutant Carter Michael was taken as a Lions Academy selection last year.
The Bombers have recalled Andrew McGrath and ruckman Andrew Phillips.
Fagan said the massed changes meant an important test as his Lions try to cement a top-four berth.
"It's not a bad thing, learning a bit more about your players and building a bit more resilience in your group," he said.
"The guys who come in are all going to play roles that are familiar to them. It's not like we've had to chop and change the team around and come up with some radical moves.
"If you want to be a great club, I always say teams win matches, but squads win premierships.
"Right now, our squad's getting tested and we're going to found out a bit more about ourselves."
Fagan was reminded that Brisbane belted West Coast by 75 points earlier this season as the Eagles were recovering from their wave of COVID-19 absentees.
"I know how Simmo (Eagles coach Adam Simpson) feels now - I reckon he was picked on unfairly during that period," Fagan said.
"It's tough when it starts to happen.
"Hopefully it (their new-look team) makes the opposition a little bit uncertain."
