Hoy comes in for his first senior game of the season after battling injuries, along with onballer Damien McCorkell and small forward-midfielder Jye Turland.

Experienced ball winner Josh Walters and teenager Otto Opperman will miss with minor knee injuries and key defender Rob Bright is out with a hamstring complaint.

Blues coach Scott Carter said he was happy with the replacements.

"We've lost some quality, no doubt about that, but the guys we've brought in have five premierships between them," he said.

Carter said Warrnambool's depth was one of its strengths this season but believes that theory w ill be put to the test against Koroit.

The Saints swapped teenagers in two changes, bringing in Jesse White and Tom Lynch for George Swarbrick, who will return to the under 18 s, and North Ballarat Rebels' James Gow, who was called up to the TAC Cup side.

North Warrnambool Eagles midfielder Andy McMeel returns for the team's must-win away battle at Portland .

McMeel has missed two games with hamstring tightness and will give the Eagles another ball winner to compete against the Tigers' highly-rated onball brigade.

Defender Mitch Bowman was also called up , having recovered from shin splints and finding form in the reserves, while Jeremy Bidmade was also recalled.

The Eagles lost livewire forward Jeremy Parkinson to a season-ending leg injury and omitted key forward Michael Darmody and teenager Lachie Barling.

North Warrnambool Eagles coach Bernard Moloney, who re-signed with the club on Tuesday, said his side was quietly confident it could cover Parkinson.

"That is footy and everyone has injuries," he said. "Depth is so important at the end of the year and having our under 18s and reserves up near finals gives us replacements when we need them."

Portland added Ethan Blacksell and Daniel Jackson but is yet to determine its outs.

Fifth-placed Terang Mortlake brought in Tom Arundell for the injured Jason Lee (ankle) for its clash against Cobden at Mortlake's D.C. Farran Oval.

Cobden will take in an unchanged line-up.

The Bombers coach Stephen Hammond said it was a positive for his young side.

"There have only been two times for the year we've picked a team on Thursday night and lined up that way," he said.

Port Fairy coach Sam Rudolph will bolster the Seagulls for their home encounter with Camperdown .

Rudolph returns to the line-up after missing last week's loss to South Warrnambool with a stomach bug.

The Seagulls also brought in Thomas Lambevski, with Adam McCosh (finger and calf) and Lachie Young (suspension) making way.

Camperdown recalled important duo Luke Mahony and Fraser Lucas.

The pair missed the Pies' win against Portland last round with thumb and thigh injuries respectively.

Coach Dan Casey confirmed promising defender Jack Williams would miss the remainder of the season with an infection.

South Warrnambool welcomed back key position player Harry Ponting for its crunch game against Hamilton Kangaroos at Melville Oval.

Ponting replaces teenager Liam Howarth, who will miss with concussion.

Hamilton Kangaroos added creative goalkicker Brendan Huf, who missed one game though injury.

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au