Essendon should significantly bolster their lineup for this Sunday's clash with West Coast, with all of Sam Draper, Mason Redman, Ben Hobbs and Xavier Duursma ready to return.
That's if they're not pushed out by the VFL talent that coach Brad Scott is gladly propping up.
Ruckman Sam Draper has recovered from a recent knee surgery, adding to the groin surgery he underwent in the off-season, but is now healthy enough for a full-fledged AFL return.
Mason Redman suffered a minor hamstring strain in the narrow loss to Gold Coast, with the bye allowing the club to manage him with extra caution for a risk-free return.
Ben Hobbs couldn't catch a break earlier this year, being a late omission from Dreamtime at the 'G before the two-three week extent of his calf strain was revealed. Again, the bye has allowed him a risk-free return against the Eagles.
Finally, Xavier Duursma should slot straight onto the wing he made his own at the Bombers, returning from a quad strain for his first outing since Round nine.
Brad Scott confirmed the availability of each, having all passed the main Thursday session with flying colours. But the Essendon coach hasn't ruled out the inclusion of some in-form reserves stars interrupting the AFL returnees, even if he wouldn't share any names.
"(There's) some others pushing up from VFL as well," Scott revealed.
"If I knew, I probably wouldn't tell you. But the reality is, I still don't know.
"We definitely have selection dilemmas."
Mid-year pickup Saad El-Hawli was a standout in the Round 11 VFL outing with Carlton, booting four goals with 27 disposals, but has unfortunately since been sidelined and set for surgery.
Midfielder Xavier O'Neal had 33 disposals in the same match, while ruckman Nick Bryan dominated with 22 disposals and 39 hit-outs.
Nate Caddy booted three crucial goals in the three-point win, also clunking six marks with his 13 disposals.
One player who will be selected for certain is skipper Zach Merrett, who has become one of the many recent victims to the in-vogue tagger.
He was kept to 21 disposals in the loss to Carlton, albeit an admirable effort being shadowed by Blue Alex Cincotta.
The Bomber coach backs in his skipper to respond to the attention with his defensive presence and ability to make the necessary role adjustments to impact games however possible.
"He just continues to ply his trade with excellence," Scott said of his captain.
"I think he's as good a defensive pressure midfielder as there is in the game.
"You can curb his influence one way but you can't curb his influence every way."
The Bombers remain confident with their returning troops, but conscious of the same situation at West Coast, who return skipper Oscar Allen this week and are hungry to avenge the narrow loss to Essendon at home earlier this year.
