Essendon appears set for sizable boost ahead of the club's do-or-die date against the Giants, with Jake Stringer, Dylan Shiel (foot injuries) Sam Draper and Jye Caldwell (hip injuries) all in the selection frame.
While the quartet will be required to pass individual fitness tests ahead of Saturday afternoon's fixture in Sydney's west, Bombers GM of Performance Daniel McPherson claimed the club was "really pleased" with the injured group's progress.
“We're really pleased Jake, Sam, Jye and Dylan are all close to a return and provided they have a good week, we expect they'll be pushing to be available for selection,” McPherson told Bombers Media.
“Once we get through main training, we'll be better placed to make a call on whether or not each of them is ready to go.”
Despite each spending time on the sidelines, Caldwell, Shiel and Stringer have laced the boots at senior level at stages throughout the last five weeks. However, Draper has not been sighted since Round 13, and with GWS ruckman Kieran Briggs currently enjoying a rich vein of form, Bomber fans will be keen to see the mulleted big man back out there.
The opening bounce of the September-shaping clash is scheduled for 4:35pm (AEST) at GIANTS Stadium.