Heath Hocking’s return this weekend will mark the veteran midfielder’s first game of the 2015 season.

Hocking won last season’s Best Team Player award but has not played a game since the club’s elimination final appearance against North Melbourne having undergone surgery on his groin earlier this year.

The much loved midfielder was close to a return a few weeks ago after several strong appearances for Essendon VFL but suffered a minor setback that saw him sidelined once again.

Now fit again, Essendon Coach James Hird said the experienced midfielder will be important to the young team’s dynamic.

“Heath’s had a pretty tough year in terms of his injuries but he’ll be coming back for his first game,” Hird said.

“We’re really excited about (him).

“He’ll give us some inside grunt, some contest around the stoppages which we’ve lacked all season really.”

The absence of some big bodies in the midfield has been something that has haunted the Bombers so far this year.

The club has struggled around the contest, finding it hard to win clearances and restricting the flow of the ball into the forward half.

While this has given the opportunity for other players to come in and try their hand at the contest, Hird was excited by the prospect of having some experienced more mature bodies return to the side.

“Nick O’Brien has spent some time, Elliott Kavanagh’s had a run there and even some of our backs in Michael Hibberd have had some time in (the middle),” said Hird

“It’s allowed us to try some other players in there.

“I would have liked to have Heath and David (Myers) in there for a lot more of the year than we have.”

Hocking is joined by Courtenay Dempsey, Shaun Edwards, Michael Hurley and Ben Howlett in the squad set to take on GWS this Sunday.

The final team will be announced at 5pm tomorrow.