Star forward Alan Didak is set to play his first senior match of season 2012 on Saturday night in the round seven contest against the Brisbane Lions.
 
Didak injured his adductor muscle during a training session in early February.  He returned to the VFL last month where he has played the last three matches and has averaged 23 disposals and kicked five goals.

"I had a really good preseason and hit a hiccup just before we started playing," Didak told collingwoodfc.com.au on Thursday.

"I hope this is the last of the injuries and I can't wait to get back in the side and have an impact on Saturday night.

"I am feeling fresh and ready to go after a stint in the VFL and looking forward to getting away with the team."
 
The 29-year-old headlines three changes with Jarryd Blair and Paul Seedsman also named in the side.
 
Ben Johnson will miss the majority of the season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction earlier in the week while Alex Fasolo is set to miss his first match of the season with knee soreness.
 
Collingwood director of football Geoff Walsh said Fasolo’s injury should only keep him out for the one match.

“Alex has pulled up with a bit of knee soreness but will be available next week for selection.”

Emerging forward Kirk Ugle has been omitted and is named as an emergency along with Jackson Paine and Peter Yagmoor.

Didak will continue his 202 game career on Saturday night against a side he has enjoyed playing against, having averaged 28 disposals in his last three matches against the Lions.

He also has a strong track record coming back from injury.  After missing five matches in the first half of 2009 with a calf problem, Didak returned on a Saturday night against Port Adelaide racking up 19 disposals and kicking three goals.  He then went on to record 30 disposals in five straight games.

Blair is enjoying a fine season in his third year, averaging 17 disposals and kicking seven goals in his first five matches.  It will be the 22-year-old’s first match at the Gabba.

This will be Seedsman’s fifth game in his debut season.  Selected with overall pick 76 in the 2010 draft, Seedsman recorded seven tackles in his last outing against Essendon on ANZAC Day.

Dale Thomas and Darren Jolly will need another week off to recover from their respective injuries.

The Magpies hit the road for the first time this season, after recording wins for their five interstate trips in 2011.

Brisbane has made five changes highlighted with the loss of Ben Hudson and Jed Adcock to injury.  Tagger Andrew Raines returns from a one-match suspension as does veteran defender Josh Drummond.
 
AFL Round seven
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood
Saturday 12 May 2012
GABBA, 7.40pm

Collingwood
B: Harry O'Brien, Ben Reid, Nathan Brown
HB: Simon Buckley, Nick Maxwell, Tyson Goldsack
C: Dane Swan, Sharrod Wellingham, Jarryd Blair
HF: Heath Shaw, Chris Dawes, Ben Sinclair
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
Foll: Cameron Wood, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
Int: Martin Clarke, Lachlan Keeffe, Alan Toovey, Paul Seedsman
Emg: Jackson Paine, Kirk Ugle, Peter Yagmoor

In: Didak, Blair, Seedsman

Out: Johnson (shoulder), Fasolo (knee), Ugle (omitted)

Brisbane Lions
B: Pearce Hanley, Matt Maguire, Niall McKeever
HB: Mitchell Golby, Joel Patfull, Daniel Rich
C: James Hawksley, Tom Rockliff, Josh Drummond
HF: James Polkinghorne, Jonathan Brown, Todd Banfield
F: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Patrick Karnezis
Foll: Billy Longer, Simon Black, Jack Redden
Int: Andrew Raines, Ryan Harwood, Jared Olec, Dayne Zorko
Emg: Bryce Retzlaff, Joshua Green, Jack Crisp

In: Drummond, Hawksley, Raines, McKeever, Dayne Zorko
Out: Jed Adcock (groin), Aaron Cornelius, Ryan Lester (soreness), Ben Hudson (soreness), Jack Crisp

New: Dayne Zorko (Broadbeach QLD)