Garrick Ibbotson and Nick Suban also return to the team, which has lost Michael Barlow (thumb) and Nat Fyfe (suspension).
Max Duffy was omitted and will be an emergency along with Jack Hannath and Matt de Boer.
Freo assistant coach/senior development coach Simon Lloyd said Ibbotson’s experience would be important.
“He’s got a very good handle on the way that we play football,” Lloyd said.
“He’s good defensively, he can play on the wing and he’s a good user so it’s great to have Garrick back in the team.”
Suban was omitted for last week’s game against Hawthorn but has come back in this week.
“He really wants his seat on the bus,” Lloyd said.
“He plays his best football when he’s a fierce competitor and really plays that surge footy.
“He’s desperate to be in that team and he’ll play that way, hopefully, this weekend.”
Ballantyne returns after missing a game with a hamstring injury.
“Hayden’s up and about as he always is,” Lloyd said.
“He got very, very close to playing last weekend.
“He’s trained really well and he gives us that great energy going into this weekend.”
Lloyd said the Lions were impressive against Collingwood last weekend.
“Brisbane ran the game out really well and they’ve got some great players in (Tom) Rockliff, who can really accumulate, (Dayne) Zorko is playing some good football and (Pearce) Hanley,” he said.
“We know the challenge that is coming up against us and we know the enormity of what it means, as well.
“We’ve got to go over there and play our brand of football and we’re looking forward to it.”
