Collingwood has made only one change ahead of its Friday night blockbuster against arch rival Carlton with zippy forward Ben Sinclair returning after a two-week layoff with an ankle injury.

The 20-year-old Sinclair was absent from the Magpies’ wins over West Coast and Fremantle in recent weeks and replaces last week’s debutant Caolan Mooney.

Mooney joins fellow Irishman Marty Clarke and Paul Seedsman as the club’s three emergencies.

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Sinclair has been a revelation in the first half of the season, playing all 11 games and averaging a goal per game until he sustained his ankle injury against Melbourne.

His frenetic pressure inside attacking fifty was a highlight, exemplified by his nine tackles against Essendon on ANZAC Day. He was rewarded for his growth in stature with a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after kicking three goals against Melbourne on the Queen’s Birthday.

The teenaged Mooney will return to the club’s VFL team but remains on the cusp of senior selection as an emergency. Mooney began his debut against Fremantle as a substitute and showed flashes of talent as a half forward when he was activated midway through the final quarter.

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Of the remaining emergencies, Clarke and Seedsman make for ideal last-minute replacements should the coaching staff call upon them. The pair stood out in Collingwood’s 22-point win in the VFL against Frankston at Victoria Park last Sunday, raffling 56 possessions between them in the midfield.

During the week, Collingwood’s Development Manager Craig McRae told collingwoodfc.com.au that Clarke and Seedsman “looked like an AFL player playing VFL footy”, and along with Tom Young appeared “ready to take their opportunities should they arise”.

Carlton has made three changes to the side that was beaten by Hawthorn last Friday, recalling Andrew Collins and Ed Curnow and blooding 20-year-old defender Andrew McInnes.

Josh Bootsma, David Ellard and Robert Warnock are the three omissions.

From the Collingwood team that lost to Carlton by 10 goals in round three, the Magpies will be without Luke Ball, Marty Clarke, Lachlan Keeffe, Scott Pendlebury and Cameron Wood.

In their place have come Nathan Brown, Simon Buckley, Jamie Elliott, Jackson Paine and Marley Williams. While only one (Brown) has played more than 50 games at AFL level, each member of the quintet has smoothly fitted into the Collingwood model circa 2012 and have contributed to the side’s run of 10 wins on the trot.

The two teams will be playing for the 20th annual Peter Mac Cup, designed to promote awareness and funds for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The match has been staged once a year to celebrate the commitment shown by Collingwood and Carlton to advancing the cause of cancer research. Since 1993, the ledger in the Peter Mac Cup sees Carlton lead with 11 wins and Collingwood eight. To make a donation to Peter Mac, visit www.petermac.org/donatenow or call 1800 111 440.

Collingwood v Carlton?
Friday 6 July?
MCG, 7:50pm??

Collingwood?
B: Harry O’Brien, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
??HB: Nick Maxwell, Ben Reid, Alan Toovey?
C: Simon Buckley, Dale Thomas, Jarryd Blair??
HF: Ben Sinclair, Chris Dawes, Heath Shaw
??F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Tyson Goldsack
??R: Darren Jolly, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom??
Int: Alex Fasolo, Sharrod Wellingham, Jackson Paine, Jamie Elliott?
Emg: Marty Clarke, Paul Seedsman, Caolan Mooney??

IN: Ben Sinclair?
OUT: Caolan Mooney (omitted)

Carlton
B: Matthew Watson, Michael Jamison, Aaron Joseph
HB: Bryce Gibbs, Nick Duigan, Zach Tuohy
C: Heath Scotland, Mitch Robinson, Dennis Armfield
HF: Kade Simpson, Andrew Walker, Andrew Collins
F: Jeffrey Garlett, Shaun Hampson, Eddie Betts
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd, Andrew Carrazzo
Int: Chris Yarran, Brock McLean, Andrew McInnes, Ed Curnow
Emg: Paul Bower, David Ellard, Robert Warnock

IN: Andrew Collins, Ed Curnow, Andrew McInnes
OUT: Josh Bootsma, David Ellard, Robert Warnock

New: Andrew McInnes (Dandenong Stringrays U18s/Devon Meadows)