Dustin Fletcher is continuing to show steady progress as he pushes for a return to the playing field before the end of the season.

The two-time premiership player has been troubled by an abdominal problem but has shown some positive signs in recent weeks.

“Fletch is certainly covering a lot more distance in his training at present,” Essendon Doctor Brendan De Morton said.

“I’d be fairly hopeful that perhaps in two or three weeks time he may be coming up to possibly play a game.”

Zach Merrett is being monitored following a stress reaction in his foot. 

The 19 year old was sore after the match against the Western Bulldogs and sat out the game against GWS.

“He’s going well, the pain is much less and he’ll probably come out of the boot in the next several days,” Doctor De Morton said.

“We’ll be watching him closely after that to see if he’s available.”

Fellow 19-year old Orazio Fantasia could return from a thigh injury this week.

“He’s had a quad strain that’s annoyed him a fair bit,” Doctor De Morton said.

“He’s looking quite good this week so at this stage he’d look very likely to play this week.”

Fantasia played two senior matches in the middle of the year taking his career tally to five.