Blues co-coach Shane Threlfall said it was tough to lose one of his gun midfielders.

"He's just tightened it, we don't want to take the risk," he said.

"He's been in good form.

"These things happen in footy, it's lucky we've got good depth."

Threlfall also confirmed forwards Aaron Searle (calf) and Jack Primmer (hamstring) would miss the final at Mortlake's DC Farran Oval.

He said they both got through training this week but the Blues' won't risk them.

The Blues mentor said another week off would "do them the world of good".

But it's not all hard luck for the Blues will Will Paulin and Jonathon Benallack back in the side this week.

Inside midfielder Benallack has recovered from a shoulder injury and Paulin returns after being rested with back tightness.

Merrivale playing coach Jason Rowan is stoked to welcome back James Kelly, half-back Todd McLean and forward Kyden Jarvis.

"Three big inclusions leading into the final on Saturday is really handy," he said.

The Tigers gave McLean the chance to rest up last week after he suffered lower-back tightness.

Rowan said it was exciting to bring a player of McLean's quality back in.

"Obviously getting a Hampden premiership player back in your side, it really stiffens up that back six," he said.

Rowan said Jarvis was also rested last week after overstretching his pectoral muscle during a tackle at training.

James Kelly is back after missing with lower-back tightness.

Old Collegians will bring four big-names in for its elimination final against Panmure at Merrivale Recreation Reserve on Sunday.

But it will be without two of its stars.

Warriors playing coach Nick Sheehan is back in with Michael Darmody, Rick Dolphin and Michael Lambevski to join him.

Darmody and Lambevski were unavailable last week and Dolphin has recovered from general soreness.

Sheehan said Darmody would be a great addition to the forward line.

"He's our leading goal-kicker at the moment so to get him back will be good," he said.

But the Warriors will be without Bodie Hibberson (hamstring) and Josh Reichman who received a knock in the final round.

Sheehan said Reichman was likely to miss just a week.

Jacob Malone and Patrick Keane have been omitted.

Panmure playing coach Chris Bant is bringing back early-season recruits Brad Cook and Liam Bishop who both came from Hampden league club, Warrnambool.

They have missed weeks with soft-tissue injuries, Cook with his hamstring and Bishop with his groin.

Bant said they would be rotated through the middle and add depth to the Bulldogs' midfield.

The Bulldogs mentor said Marcus Kelly and Josh Parsons (omitted) were stiff to miss out.

Warrnambool & District Football Netball League

Qualifying Final Saturday

Nirranda

B: William Templeton, Luke Weel, Daniel Threlfall

HB: James Willsher, Mathew Lloyd, Brayden Harkness

C: William Paulin, Isaac Templeton, Dylan Lees

HF: Ben Threlfall, Jesse Dalton, Daniel Craven

F: Rick Spokes, Gary Robinson, Jason Lee

R: Inoke Ratu, Peter McDowall, Jonathon Benallack

Int: Luke Irving, Josh Irving, Bronte McCann

In: William Paulin, Jonathon Benallack

Out: Dylan Willsher, John Paulin

Merrivale

B: Oliver Doukas, Sean Barnes, Tyler Stephens

HB: Todd McLean, James Fary, Jack Grace

C: Joshua Sobey, Angus Campbell, Will Ryan

HF: Jalen Porter, Rob Bright, Joshua Keilar

F: James Kelly, Jason Rowan, Kyden Jarvis

R: Michael Boyd, Blair McCutcheon, Jyron Neave

Int: Tate Porter, Corey Britton, Charlie McDonald, Leatham Robe

In: James Kelly, Todd McLean, Kyden Jarvis

Out: Bailen McDonald, Nanda Murdila, Jayden Brown

Elimination Final Sunday

Old Collegians

B: Paul Campbell, Mason Crosier, Josh Dwyer

HB: Daniel Weel, Daryl Beechey, Eli Barker

C: Timothy Lewis, Matthew Lynch, Samuel Thomas

HF: Blake Rudland-Castles, Zachary Pickett, Rick Dolphin

F: Thomas Lambevski, Michael Darmody, Colby Rix

R: Scott Lenehan, Aaron Williams, Benjamin Turner-Dwyer

Int: Jamie McKenzie, Nicholas Sheehan, Jacob Brooks, Michael Lambevski

In: Nicholas Sheehan, Michael Darmody, Rick Dolphin, Michael Lambevski

Out: Jacob Malone, Patrick Keane, Bodie Hibberson, Joshua Reichman

Panmure

B: Brandon Bant, Daniel Meade, Michael McKenzie

HB: Ben Mahony, Thomas White , Tom Mahony

C: Ben Robertson, Jacob Moloney, Christopher Bant

HF: Adam Lee, Sam Melican, Liam Bishop

F: Jaymen Fletcher, Samuel Mahony, Bradley Cook

R: Kallan Melican, Louis Kew, Thomas Wright

Int: Patrick Mahony, Bradley Gedye, Tommy Jones, Lachlan McLeod

In: Bradley Cook, Liam Bishop

Out: Marcus Kelly, Josh Parsons

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