Essendon has named four inclusions to a 26-man squad for its clash with Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
Orazio Fantasia and Patrick Ambrose are in line to return from injury, joining Conor McKenna and Brayden Ham on an extended bench.
No outs have been confirmed at this stage, with the final 22-man team to be released at 5pm AEST on Friday.
Fantasia, who strained his quad a fortnight ago, will need to prove his fitness in Friday’s main session before a decision is made on his availability.
Should McKenna be selected, Sunday’s match will mark the speedster's first appearance in the senior line-up in 2020.
The 24-year-old has put his hand up for selection after an interrupted preparation returning from Ireland.
The Bombers will be striving for a 3-0 start to the season for the first time since 2013, having recorded six-point victories over Fremantle and Sydney to sit third on the ladder.
EXTENDED SQUAD: ROUND THREE
Backs: 18. Michael Hurley, 26. Cale Hooker, 10. Aaron Francis
Half-backs: 14. Jordan Ridley, 27. Mason Redman, 42. Adam Saad
Centre: 12. Tom Cutler, 21. Dyson Heppell, 1. Andrew McGrath
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, 9. Dylan Shiel, 7. Zach Merrett
Interchange from: 45. Conor McKenna, 4. Kyle Langford, 3. Darcy Parish, 11. David Zaharakis, 33. Brayden Ham, 13. Orazio Fantasia, 35. Matt Guelfi, 29. Patrick Ambrose
In: McKenna, Ham, Fantasia, Ambrose
Out: Nil
