Midfield pressure will be the key to overcoming the Sydney Swans when Essendon clashes with the ladder leader on Friday night, says Bomber Brendon Goddard.

Goddard said the Bombers would aim to copy Hawthorn's game style that was successful against the Swans in round 18.

Midfield pressure should also help stymie the influence of Swans' power forward Lance Franklin, who has kicked 55 goals against the Bombers in 11 outings against them.

Goddard said the Bombers had analysed how the Hawks outmuscled the Swans after half-time to claw back a 23-point deficit and hold on for a 10-point win. 

"The coaches have dissected that game and I watched bits of pieces of it and you can always take something out of a game, particularly when Hawthorn were able to overcome them in the last quarter and a half," Goddard said on Thursday.

"Particularly in the last quarter-and-a-half, their contest work and their ability to get the ball forward was a standout."

The in-form Franklin kicked five against the Hawks last week, and five against the Bombers in round nine.

Goddard said it would take more than one player to curb his influence.

"I think that's always the case. I think a lot of it comes through delivery from the mids and how our pressure is around the ball," he said at the Bombers' launch of the Purple Bombers supporter group.

"They set their game up from the contest, which allows Buddy to essentially put on a show.

"We'll do our best to try to minimise his impact and free ball through the midfield."

Ruckman Tom Bellchambers will train on Thursday in a bid to prove his fitness while Goddard said captain Jobe Watson was aiming to return in three weeks after joining in drills on Tuesday.

He also said the Bombers were relishing the opportunity to play the "yardstick" side with five home and away games remaining.

"Our destiny is in our own hands and it'd be a positive that if we do make finals, we'll have to be in form because we'll have to probably win 4 out of the next 5.

"We know where we stand and the good thing is we're playing consistent footy.

"Regardless of the result this week, I just hope we put in a good performance and set up our next 5 weeks."

Goddard said the situation surrounding James Hird's return was a "little drop in the ocean" in terms of distraction levels for the players after the past 18 months.

He said they were accepting of the board's decision for Hird to return next month to a role that focused on 2015 rather than the coach's box.

"We want him back as soon as possible and we support the board's decision of an official role for James," he said.

"For his transition and our transition as a footy club going into 2015, it's best he comes back in some capacity as soon as he can."

Hird's suspension ends on August 25.

The Purple Bombers' supporter group will be established for next season as an initiative of long-time member and player sponsor Jason Tuazon-Mocheyne, and will support the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) community.

There will be a specific membership package in 2015 and the group will work with club to continue to make a stand against homophobia and discrimination.