Cox has battled tonsillitis all week and Gippsland won’t risk him.

The Gippsland selectors have been forced to make three late changes.

Joining Cox on the sidelines are Sale forward Brenton Martin and Traralgon’s Michael Geary.

Their places have been taken by Sale’s Kane Fraser, Maffra’s Kal Killoran and Traralgon’s Tim Aitken, who is the competition’s leading goalkicker with 29.

There’s also doubt surrounding key forward Daniel Stubbe.

Stubbe, who kicked eight goals for Maffra last weekend, could miss the game because of work committments.

Cox’s absence is a telling blow for Gippsland.

The 29-year-old played 54 games for the Hawks between 1999 and 2004, including the 2001 preliminary final when Essendon defeated Hawthorn by nine points.

Gippsland is coached by Hayden Burgiel, who was also drafted by Hawthorn but didn’t play an AFL game, and will be captained by Hayden’s brother, Adrian.