Three-time All-Australian Macrae could not be ignored by coach Luke Beveridge after tallying 47 disposals and 17 clearances in the VFL last week.
He returns with Taylor Duryea against the last-placed Eagles at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, with Ed Richards (concussion) and Nick Coffield (shoulder) out.
Martin was named in Richmond's initial extended squad for Sunday's game at the MCG but has been left out as he battles a lingering calf issue.
The 32-year-old missed the Tigers' season-opening defeat to Gold Coast with a corked calf and managed just 16 disposals in both of the losses to Carlton and Port Adelaide.
"We've got to just break the pattern of him getting through week to week," Richmond coach Adem Yze said of the three-time Norm Smith medallist.
"We're going to break that cycle this week and give him a lighter week so that he's pain-free.
"He's just been battling a little bit the last couple of weeks with his calf and still trying to perform as he normally does.
"His first half last week was terrific, but you could see that he just gets a little bit sore, so we're going to help him through that."
Dustin Martin tries to break an Ollie Wines tackle in the loss to Port. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)
Richmond (0-3) are chasing their first win of the season against unbeaten Sydney (3-0) and have also lost former skipper Dylan Grimes (wrist) to injury, in a blow to their chances of curtailing Swans talls Logan McDonald, Hayden McLean and Joel Amartey.
Nathan Broad (calf), Tyler Young (concussion) and Maurice Rioli (back) are all back from injuries, while Tyler Sonsie will make his first AFL appearance since serving a three-match ban for an ugly off-the-ball strike in a VFL game last year.
The Tigers opted against calling up Sam Naismith to help Toby Nankervis in the ruck against Sydney star Brodie Grundy and deputy McLean.
Caleb Mitchell will debut for the Swans, with Robbie Fox recalled and Harry Cunningham (concussion) unavailable after the bump from Peter Wright that landed the Essendon forward a four-match suspension.
West Coast (0-2) have called up tall forward Jack Williams in place of Harry Barnett for their clash with the Bulldogs (1-1).
The Eagles have suffered successive defeats to open the new season but will be buoyed by their most recent trip to Marvel Stadium, when they upset the Bulldogs in round 23 last year.
