Michael Hurley is making steady progress from his hamstring injury and should be available for the latter stages of the NAB Cup, according to Essendon captain Jobe Watson.

Hurley felt a tightening in his hamstring last week as the club returned to pre-season training and was pulled out of full training until February.

At Friday morning's session at Victoria Park Hurley stepped up his rehabilitation program, jogging in 100 metre intervals. He didn't wear strapping on the muscle and appeared untroubled.

Watson said it was likely the emerging 21-year-old would sit out the first round of the NAB Cup – which sees the Bombers fly to Perth to take on West Coast and Fremantle on February 19 – and instead ease his way into match practice.

""He tightened up in the speed testing we had when we first came back,"" Watson said.

""Being the player that he is, the position (he plays) and the importance that he has for the team, we made sure we didn't risk him.

""He'll progress with his running today and it's just getting him back into training.

""I wouldn't imagine he'll be playing early in the NAB Cup but like the rest of us he'll be there later in the NAB Cup.""