Essendon has named three inclusions to an extended squad for Sunday's clash with Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.

Will Snelling, Alec Waterman and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher are in line for their first AFL games this season, having been included on an eight-man interchange that will be trimmed to four at 5pm on Friday.

No outs have been named at this stage, with last week's unused medical sub Devon Smith named on the extended bench.

Snelling could slot straight back in after missing the first three rounds with a calf injury, while impressive VFL performances from Waterman (three goals, 16 disposals) and Zerk-Thatcher (17 disposals, nine marks) at the weekend have put them in the mix for senior selection.

Having been listed as a test yesterday, Nik Cox will miss a second consecutive game with an ankle injury.

ESSENDON'S SQUAD - RD 4

Backs: Nick Hind, Jayden Laverde, Jake Kelly
Half-backs: Andrew McGrath, Jordan Ridley, Dyson Heppell (C)
Centreline: Sam Durham, Darcy Parish, Nic Martin
Half-forwards: Archie Perkins, Jake Stringer, Brayden Ham
Forwards: Matt Guelfi, Peter Wright, Tex Wanganeen
Followers: Sam Draper, Jye Caldwell, Dylan Shiel
Interchange (from): James Stewart, Will Snelling, Tom Cutler, Mason Redman, Andrew Phillips, Alec Waterman, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Devon Smith

In: Snelling, Waterman, Zerk-Thatcher

Out: Nil

Last week's medical sub: Smith (not used)