Lewis Hamilton will start as favourite to take his third consecutive pole position of the season.
Alonso is targeting the Triple Crown - the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The 37-year-old will deputise for the Spaniard as he competes in the Indianapolis 500.
Retired Briton is expected to deputise for former teammate, who will race in May's Indy 500.
Hamilton and Vettel are tied at the top of the championship going into the third race of the season.
Jenson Button among contenders to sit in for Spaniard while he races Indy 500 in May.
Spaniard will make his debut at the Indi 500 with a Honda-powered McLaren run by the Andretti Autosport team.
Wehrlein missed the first two races of the F1 season in Australia and China.
Shanghai Grand Prix winner says there is "amazing sportsmanship" between championship rivals.
Martin Brundle expects the new season to deliver one of the tightest championship battles for years.
Alonso's contract with McLaren-Honda expires at the end of the 2017 season.
Experienced Finn finished fifth in Shanghai amid frustrations regarding the team's pit strategy.
IBTimes UK talks to key members of McLaren's Technology Centre about the strengths and limits of 3D printing in F1.
Mercedes boss claims three-time world champion is "in a different league" after latest Shanghai triumph.
Hamilton won his first race of the 2017 in Shanghai.
Vettel and Hamilton are tied at the top with 44 points.
Lewis Hamilton will start in pole position for the second race in a row.
Hamilton beat Sebastian Vettel for the second race in a row to clinch pole position.
Exclusive: Ricciardo spoke to IBTimes UK regarding Valtteri Bottas' appointment at Mercedes to replace Rosberg.
Exclusive: Ricciardo told IBTimes UK of Red Bull's chances of closing the gap on Mercedes and Ferrari.
FP1 was disrupted while FP2 was cancelled due to poor weather conditions in Shanghai.
Second practice in Shanghai was called off due to poor visibility.
Stratasys 3D printing technology is bringing 'race-ready' parts to McLaren's 2017 Formula 1 car.
Victory at the Australian Grand Prix does not alter the Silver Arrows' status as the team to beat, says the German.
Ferrari are looking to win back-to-back races for the first time since 2010.
But the Spaniard has been warned to expect further problems at the International Circuit.
Ferrari protege steps into the breach for the second consecutive race after impressive debut in Melbourne.
Hamilton finished second to Vettel at the 2017 season opening Australian Grand Prix.
Race director Eric Boullier: Flaws in 2017 will be further exposed when season reaches China.
Sebastian Vettel's victory in Melbourne blamed on pit-stop error by Silver Arrows' chief strategist.