Senior coach Chris Fagan has stuck to a winning formula with the return of Dayne Zorko the only change to the side named to take on Geelong in Sydney on Thursday night.

The skipper returns from a calf strain and will replace strong-bodied midfielder Cam Ellis Yolmen who has a minor calf injury.

Zorko missed the 37- point win over leader leaders Port Adelaide at the Gabba last Saturday night but convinced the Club’s medical staff he was ready to resume playing after training strongly over the weekend.

Sam Skinner, Noah Answerth, Alex Witherden and Rhys Mathieson are the emergencies.

The Lions will take a traveling party of 27 players on the extended trip to NSW where the club plays games against the Cats and then GWS.

Deven Robertson, the club’s top pick in last year’s national draft, is the other member of the touring party.

The Lions settled on a group of 27 players in order to stick to the AFL’s rules that some training sessions are conducted in groups of nine.