According to the cross-country skiing national team manager Anders Byström, Ribom was kept out to avoid getting too many questions about the sprint, where she was dropped in favor of Johanna Hagström.
"We want to protect her so she can really focus on this competition," he said.
Otherwise, no changes will be made compared to the skiathlon race this weekend: Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson and Moa Ilar.
Sundling is being given time to rest because she is considered to need it after being the only Swede to have competed in both the skiathlon and the sprint. The relay race is already scheduled for Saturday.
"She probably also feels she needs some recovery now to be able to get the most out of her body for the rest of the Olympics," women's coach Stefan Thomson said.
The Swedish men, who compete on Friday, will line up with the same quartet as in the skiathlon: Edvin Anger, Gustaf Berglund, William Poromaa and Truls Gisselman.
Both races are run in freestyle.
Corrected: Stefan Thomson previously had the wrong title.
