Essendon stoppages coach Mark Harvey is confident the Bombers will be in a “good situation” at the selection table ahead of their round one clash with Fremantle.

The Dons have two Marsh Community Series games to get through before they face the Dockers at Marvel Stadium on March 21 and Harvey said a number of experienced players are on track to return from injury and put their hand up for selection.

Essendon will take on West Coast in its first official pre-season hit-out this Thursday at Mineral Resources Park in Perth and key defender Michael Hurley is expected to be named in the 26-man line-up after working his way back from off-season shoulder surgery.

Fellow key backman Patrick Ambrose suffered a PCL injury in last week’s practice match against Melbourne and Harvey said the squad’s depth, alongside Hurley’s welcome inclusion, will ensure the side can cover his loss.

“We’ve got a really good, young list of players coming through, so it gives more opportunity (to them),” Harvey said on Tuesday.

“We’ll go and play West Coast on Thursday night. We’ll take 26 players, so we’ll see how our depth is.

“(Hurley) will be one of the players that will be playing this week, so he’s back on track. He’ll probably play 70 to 80 per cent game time on Thursday night, so he’s back.”

Essendon’s list of players restricted during the pre-season has been well publicised but Harvey is expecting that group to shrink in the coming weeks.

“We can’t control (external commentary), but what I will say is that in the next three weeks we get a chance to time our list and get them ready for round one. I think we’ll be in a good situation come (the game against) Fremantle.

“I think what people need to understand is once players have been around for a period of time like (David) Zaharakis, (Tom) Bellchambers, (Cale) Hooker and these sorts of guys – they know how to get themselves right pretty quick.

“They’re working as hard as they can in cross training to strengthen the areas where they have had operations and I’m pretty sure that you’ll see a lot of our players available for round one. ?

“That’s not going to be everyone, but we’d like to think we’d still be in a good position.”

Zaharakis has undergone multiple surgeries since the end of the 2019 season, but the veteran returned to the field in impressive fashion last week against the Demons, booting the opening two goals and moving well before being rested in the second half.

Ball magnet Zach Merrett was one of several other Bombers to join Zaharakis in taking part in one half of the scratch match and Harvey is expecting the pair to increase their loads against the Eagles on Thursday.

Senior captain Dyson Heppell (foot) is another star Bomber working back to full fitness and Harvey described the midfielder as a “work in progress”, while he hinted one or more of the club’s first-year players could line up in the red and black this week.

“We’ll just get through this training session first and then the coaches will get together and formulate the side. I would imagine there would be (draftees named).”