Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis is confident big man Patrick Ryder can cover the loss of injured ruckman Tom Bellchambers for the start of the 2014 season.

Bellchambers is set to miss the first six rounds of the home and away season following surgery on his injured ankle just a fortnight ago.

Zaharakis has no concerns over the team being able to cover for the loss of the 24-year-old big man.

“Hopefully he will be back in the early part of the year, the surgery went very well and it wasn’t as bad as what they originally thought,” Zahrakis said.

“As a midfielder hopefully Paddy can stand up, he did it two years ago when our ruck man went down and he stood up for the whole year.”

“Hopefully he can stand up for the first part of the year and provide the midfield with a lot of spark.

Zaharakis said it was important that Ryder showed his full potential especially when it comes to giving the midfield first possession of the football.

“Hopefully he can win a lot of footy for us because that is what Tommy does so well, he is such a good tap ruckman,” he said.

“I have all the confidence in Paddy and our midfield has the depth to hold out until Tommy comes back in.”

On his own form the Bombers midfielder is pleased with the way his pre-season has progress over the last three months.

“It is probably the first pre-season where I have done pretty much the whole lot in my five or six years that I have been here,” Zaharakis said.

 “This year my times are the best they have ever been and my strength tests in the gym are the best.”

“Everyone is flying at this time of year but this year for me personally it I probably the best out of my five or six pre-seasons.”

Join the Bomber army today as we strive for 60,000 members in 2014.

Don't drop the ball when it comes to your career. You could become a Personal Trainer with Dyson Heppell, Mark Baguley, Tayte Pears and Michael Hibberd at Australian Institute of Fitness. Contact the Institute on 1300 669 669 or visit www.fitness.edu.au.