The Cats axed De Koning, Jack Martin and Jhye Clark and welcomed back Max Holmes, Mark Blicavs and Oli Wiltshire for their do-or-die clash with in-form Carlton.
Holmes returns after making a swift recovery from the ankle he broke against St Kilda in round 19, but the axing of key defender De Koning, who has played 19 games this season, raised eyebrows.
Carlton recalled first-year defender Wade Derksen for Nick Haynes (ankle), with forward Will Hayward (ankle) unable to recover in time to earn a recall.
Meanwhile, having missed the past three games with his latest calf injury, Brisbane co-captain McCluggage is back to face Sydney in Saturday's qualifying final at the SCG.
The All-Australian midfielder replaces defender Ty Gallop in the side.
Undermanned amid five player suspensions, the Swans weren't able to consider Joel Amartey (Achilles strain) as his absence stretches to 10 weeks.
Instead, key forward Hayden McLean comes into the side to replace developing ruckman Will Green in Sydney's only change.
Silky midfielder McCluggage has only managed 13 games this season but is considered a must by teammates, with co-captain Harris Andrews this week labelling him the Lions' best player in a stacked squad.
He may also be the most honest, with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan saying he could tell plenty by how McCluggage carried himself at training on Tuesday.
"He did the whole session, he was terrific, he was bubbly and as confident as I've seen him, and he's not one to fake it," Fagan said.
"In fact, he's the other way around. He's an easy tell I reckon when he's not happy with himself."
The pressure will be on the undermanned Swans, with Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon stood down for the rest of the season for "breaching club standards".
Those sanctions are separate to the police investigation into sexual assault allegations and the events at East Melbourne's Pullman Hotel on August 17.
No charges have been laid and AAP is not suggesting any wrongdoing on the part of the five suspended players.
The Western Bulldogs replaced Matt Kennedy (concussion) with Will Lewis for their elimination final against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The Crows welcome back Callum Ah Chee, with Zac Taylor the only out due to a hamstring injury.
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