Essendon will make at least two changes to its side for its clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium with captain Dyson Heppell ruled out of Sunday’s important game.

Heppell bravely played out the team’s stunning victory over Adelaide last week despite battling ongoing foot soreness, but he has not been able to recover enough in time and is expected to manage the injury throughout the remainder of the season.

Exciting defender Conor McKenna will not take his place in the side due to a pre-planned arrangement to travel back to Ireland for his brother’s wedding.

Six Bombers are in the mix to replace the pair including ruckman Zac Clarke who has overcome the illness that saw him miss the defeat of the Crows.

Young forward Jayden Laverde also missed the win due to minor back soreness, but he has put his hand up for selection this week alongside David Myers, Mark Baguley, Ben McNiece and Josh Begley.

EXTENDED SQUAD
B – Matt Guelfi, Cale Hooker, Martin Gleeson
HB – Patrick Ambrose, Aaron Francis, Adam Saad
C – Mason Redman, Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis
HF – Dylan Shiel, Jake Stringer, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
F – Will Snelling, Mitch Brown, Kyle Langford
R – Shaun McKernan, Darcy Parish, Dylan Clarke
Extended interchange – Zac Clarke, Andrew McGrath, David Myers, Jayden Laverde, Michael Hartley, Mark Baguley, Ben McNiece, Josh Begley

IN – Z. Clarke, Myers, Laverde, Baguley, McNiece, Begley
OUT – Heppell (injured), McKenna (unavailable)

The final team will be announced at 5pm on Friday.