Premiership captain Nick Maxwell headlines the inclusion of three senior players in Collingwood’s line up to tackle arch rival Carlton at the MCG on Friday night.

Maxwell is joined in the team by 2010 premiership teammate Sharrod Wellingham and 58-game ruckman Cameron Wood. All three are set to play their first senior games for the season.

Full back Chris Tarrant has been sidelined by the calf injury he sustained in the opening term against Richmond last week, while youngsters Jackson Paine and Paul Seedsman will return to the VFL after playing the first two games of the year.

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Maxwell enjoyed an uninterrupted pre-season until he sustained an ankle injury in the NAB Cup victory over St Kilda in March. He has trained well in recent weeks and for the second year running will play his first match of the season against Carlton in round three.

The 23-year-old Wellingham was forced to sit out the first fortnight of the AFL season courtesy of a club suspension after he missed a rehabilitation session and consumed alcohol while injured.

Wellingham was permitted to play in the VFL during his suspension and was one of the side’s best in team’s season opener against Geelong when he gathered 30-disposals. He sat out last Saturday’s VFL encounter against North Ballarat.

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The third inclusion, Cameron Wood, was named as his side's best with 18 disposals and 32 hitouts against North Ballarat last week after spending much of his pre-season on a limited program following shoulder surgery. The 204cm ruckman damaged his shoulder against the Bulldogs in round six last season but managed to play another 10 games for the season.

Both Maxwell and Wellingham were members of the losing Grand Final side last October while Wood was last sighted in the round 24 loss to Geelong last year.

The two omissions, Paine and Seedsman, showed promise in their initial outings at senior level. Paine, the club’s first selection in the 2011 National Draft, booted two goals from 15 disposals. Seedsman, who began as the substitute in both games managed to gather 15 disposals. The pair join Tom Young as an emergency on Friday night.

Still on the way back are premiership pair Nathan Brown and Ben Johnson who each performed well for the club’s VFL team against North Ballarat at Victoria Park last Saturday.

Alan Didak, returning from an adductor injury, is a chance to play his first game of the year in the VFL against the Northern Blues at Preston City Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Carlton has made two changes to the team that defeated Brisbane by 91 points. Defenders Nick Duigan and Michael Jamison have returned, while Bret Thornton and Jordan Russell were omitted.

Carlton v Collingwood
Friday 13 April
MCG, 7.50pm

Collingwood
B: Harry O’Brien, Lachlan Keeffe, Heath Shaw
HB: Nick Maxwell, Ben Reid, Tyson Goldsack
C: Dane Swan, Luke Ball, Sharrod Wellingham
HF: Dale Thomas, Chris Dawes, Ben Sinclair
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
Int: Martin Clarke, Jarryd Blair, Alan Toovey, Cameron Wood
Emg: Tom Young, Jackson Paine, Paul Seedsman

In: Nick Maxwell, Sharrod Wellingham, Cameron Wood
Out: Chris Tarrant (calf), Jackson Paine (omitted), Paul Seedsman (omitted)

Carlton
B: Jeremy Laidler, Lachlan Henderson, Chris Yarran
HB: Nick Duigan, Paul Bower, Zach Tuohy
C: Heath Scotland, Chris Judd, Kane Simpson
HF: Jeff Garlett, Jarrad Waite, Marc Murphy
F: Michael Jamison, Matthew Kreuzer, Eddie Betts
Foll: Shaun Hampson, Andrew Carrazzo, Bryce Gibbs
Int: Dennis Armfield, Ed Curnow, Kane Lucas, Mitch Robinson
Emg: Brock McLean, Jordan Russell, Bret Thornton

In: Nick Duigan, Michael Jamison
Out: Bret Thornton, Jordan Russell