Contributer can become John O'Shea's first G1 winner with the Godolphin stables, with jockey James McDonald to jump from barrier two on the pre-race Emirates favourite.
O'Shea was flirting with the idea of running the five-year-old High Chaparral sire in the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day, but decided to skip it in favour of the feature of the final feature of the Flemington carnival.
"We had to bring him back to the mile but we are happy with him," O'Shea said.
"He is going to need a bit of luck from that gate as he gets back in the field.
"But the little fella [McDonald] on top seems to find the right mark most of the time."
Contributer is one of four last-start winners to line up in 1million Australian-dollar race, alongside other fancies Hucklebuck, Hooked and Lucky Hussler.
Hucklebuck, for South Australian trainer Philip Stokes and jockey Dom Tourneur, won the Group Three Yellowglen Stakes (1400m) on Derby Day to loom into Emirates contention.
Craig Williams takes the ride on Hooked for John Thompson, having won the Crystal Mile (1600m) on Cox Plate day - pinching the win from a fast-finishing Bull Point, the latter also in the market for star trainer Chris Waller and jockey Damian Oliver.
Oliver won the VRC Derby on Preferment, and can double his Flemington feature tally in the Spring Carnival on the four-year-old - who has previously placed in Group One company.
Leading the field out will be cult hero The Cleaner for Tasmanian trainer Mick Burles and heavyweight hoop Steven Arnold.
The Cleaner led the Cox Plate field before fading late in the 2040m classic at Moonee Valley, but won his three races prior and is among the each-way chances to cause a boilover.
In the million-dollar Darley Classic, the Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua is expected to open her G1 account in the 1200m sprint.
Chautauqua's previous two runs have both been at Flemington in Group company, and the four-year-old gelding has blitzed his rivals - winning the Group Three Bobbie Lewis Quality by 2.5 lengths before a four-length win in the Group Two Gilgai Stakes in October.
However, the doubt on the red-hot favourite is how she handles the company in her first Group One start - up against nine G1 winners.
Leading the challengers is top-rated sprinter Lankan Rupee, who has won four of her six starts in the grade, while champion seven-year-old Buffering is also a four-time G1 winner.
Moment Of Change, for Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen, has finished in the top two six times in 15 G1 starts, while Platelet - for Victorian Premiership-winning trainer Darren Weir - has four top-two results from five runs in the grade.