The Essendon backline could receive a much needed boost this week against the Giants.

Defender Michael Hartley is likely to be available for selection after making solid progress from a hamstring injury suffered against Richmond.

Hartley has completed the allocated rehabilitation and will just need to get through training this week in order to be considered for the game.

“Harts is going really well,” Head Physiotherapist Peter Blanch said.

“He got through just over 11km of running on Saturday at training and he ticked off his top speed.

“He’ll be back in full training this week and will be available to play for this weekend.”

Fans may also see youngster Jayden Laverde return this week after he made a successful comeback for Essendon VFL over the weekend.

In his first game back from shoulder surgery, Laverde moved well, marked strongly and kicked three goals in the loss to Sandringham.

Fellow teammate Alex Morgan also had a successful return from injury, playing in only his second game for Essendon VFL.

The news is also good for senior Bombers Jonathan Simpkin and Ryan Crowley, who are both currently sidelined with hamstring injuries.

The severity of Simpkin’s injury means that his rehabilitation program was going to be slightly longer than Crowley’s.

However, both have returned to running and will slowly continue to build their training loads. 

“He’ll (Simpkin) go for a scan later this week to see where he is up to. He’s going to according to plan, but he’ll still be a couple of weeks away,” Blanch said. 

“Crowls is back running and he’ll be a standard 4-5 week hamstring injury.”