Essendon will be keen to get one back on old rivals Collingwood when the teams meet at the MCG on Saturday.

The nightmare ANZAC day encounter would still be fresh in the Bombers’ memories after the Magpies sealed a 73-point win, and Essendon will be desperate to turn the tables this week.

Both teams are coming into the grudge match on the back of a loss – Essendon losing by just four points to Richmond, while Collingwood lost to North Melbourne – and the players will be extra hungry for four points.

Injuries have hurt the Bombers in recent weeks and the side is again without a number of significant players. However Dustin Fletcher is a key ""in"" this week after missing the Tigers clash with an ankle complaint.

He takes the place of emerging forward, Jay Neagle, who will miss the remainder of the year with an ankle injury. Fletcher is one option for Travis Cloke but the fans will be hoping Patrick Ryder gets the nod in order to see two of the league's best young key position players go head-to-head.

The Magpies have named Nathan Brown and Chris Bryan near goal and will try to stretch the Bomber backline. Nathan Lovett-Murray will again need to play tall and probably take the resting ruckman. Adam McPhee has been named down back to provide support.

Collingwood’s Paul Medhurst and Alan Didak are two of the best small forwards in the league and have caused teams plenty of grief this season. Scott Pendlebury is also damaging. Jay Nash, Henry Slattery and Kyle Reimers have a huge game ahead of them and whoever takes Medhurst will play a game-defining role. Medhurst was the difference on ANZAC day and must be stopped.

Jobe Watson, Andrew Welsh and Brent Stanton will take on Scott Burns, Dale Thomas and Dane Swan. Welsh, who has recovered from concussion, could be given the job on Swan who wins plenty of the ball and is known for his hard running and goal kicking.

With David Hille in fine form and Jason Laycock providing good back-up the Bomber midfield should receive first use of the ball. Collingwood doesn't boast the strongest ruck division and appears vulnerable in this area. Laycock in particular, would be keen to stamp his mark on the game this week after failing to capitalise on opportunities against the Tigers.

Essendon’s forward line looks dangerous. Angus Monfries has named to play despite doubt over his sore ankle earlier in the week. He will line-up alongside Scott Lucas and Matthew Lloyd and there will be no shortage of fire-power.
 
Leroy Jetta has been backed by the coaching staff to pull the trigger near goals on Saturday and Lonergan is growing as a forward so kicking goals should not be the problem. However, the Magpies get plenty of run from their backmen so the defensive pressure of the Esssendon forwards has been stressed as a focal point during the week.
 
Essendon's finals hopes may well be gone and Collingwood's still alive but the Bomber players would love nothing more than to send a shiver of doubt through the Magpie camp by storming home for an against-the-odds win.