Essendon is set to regain its experienced heads for round two, having named captain Dyson Heppell, Cale Hooker and Shaun McKernan in an extended squad for its clash with Sydney at the SCG on Sunday.
The trio join fellow inclusions Patrick Ambrose, Andrew Phillips and Brayden Ham in a 26-man squad, which will be trimmed to 22 at 5pm AEST on Friday.
Orazio Fantasia (quad) and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (suspension) are the only confirmed outs.
Despite being under injury clouds, Heppell (foot) and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (ankle) will be given until Friday’s main training session to prove their fitness.
The Bombers will be looking to keep their unbeaten start to 2020 intact and snap a seven-game losing streak at the SCG on Sunday, which stretches back to 2009.
The match will begin at 3:35pm AEST, broadcast live on Channel 7.
EXTENDED SQUAD: ROUND TWO
| Backs | 35. Matt Guelfi | 26. Cale Hooker | 18. Michael Hurley |
| Half-backs | 42. Adam Saad | 27. Mason Redman | 14. Jordan Ridley |
| Centre | 12. Tom Cutler | 1. Andrew McGrath | 7. Zach Merrett |
| Half-forwards | 5. Devon Smith | 40. Will Snelling | 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti |
| Forwards | 25. Jake Stringer | 44. Shaun McKernan | 20. Jacob Townsend |
| Followers | 2. Tom Bellchambers | 21. Dyson Heppell (C) | 9. Dylan Shiel |
| Extended bench | 3. Darcy Parish | 29. Patrick Ambrose | 11. David Zaharakis |
| 4. Kyle Langford | 10. Aaron Francis | 33. Brayden Ham | |
| 34. Andrew Phillips | 15. Jayden Laverde |
In: Hooker, Heppell, McKernan Ambrose, Ham, Phillips
Out: Fantasia (quad), Zerk-Thatcher (suspension)
Milestone: Townsend - 50 AFL games
