MELBOURNE has named Brooke Patterson in its side to face GWS, with the defender set to play her first game for the season on Sunday afternoon.

The 29-year-old is one of three inclusions to the 23-girl squad as the Demons look to make some changes ahead of Round 5’s must-win match.

Maddy Guerin and Shelley Heath have been named on the extended interchange and will be pushing their claim for selection at training on Thursday night.

The final team of 21 will be named on Friday afternoon with the Dees set to head to Sydney on Saturday morning.

Young defender Ash Woodland is the unlucky omission making way for Patterson, as the 19-year-old is set to miss for the first time in her debut season.

After falling just four points short of North Melbourne last week, the Demons now sit fourth on the AFLW ladder in Conference A.

In order to stay in touch with the top-two and push for a maiden finals berth, Melbourne will likely need to win its remaining three games and have other results fall in its favour.

This cross-conference match-up with the Giants is crucial, as GWS have won just the one match so far in 2019.

Melbourne’s Round 5 clash will kick off at 2:05pm and is to be played at Blacktown International Sportspark.