Curler Karlee Burgess joining Team Einarson to fill in for injured Shannon Birchard

Team Kerri Einarson is adding three-time world junior champion Karlee Burgess to its lineup.

Burgess will fill in for second Shannon Birchard, who will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury.

The Manitoba team says Curling Canada granted the four-time national champions an injury exemption, which allows them to use a replacement player and maintain eligibility for the upcoming Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The team also includes vice Val Sweeting and fifth Krysten Karwacki, who has been filling in for Briane Harris at lead.

Harris was provisionally suspended for up to four years last February after testing positive for a banned substance. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has yet to announce a decision on her appeal of the doping violation.

Burgess played third for Team Chelsea Carey earlier this season. Her departure from that team was announced on Thursday.

Confirming that Karlee Burgess will be in the Team Einarson lineup for the Guelph <a href="https://twitter.com/grandslamcurl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@grandslamcurl</a> <br><br>It begins in 11 days from now. <br><br>What a curling season this has been. And it's only going to heat up from here.