Tonight's practice match against West Coast at Subiaco is a crucial test for the Bombers in the lead up to Round 1, according to Essendon Captain, Matthew Lloyd.
 
""There is just over two weeks until our first game of the AFL season and we will be playing as hard as we can in the roles Matthew Knights gives us,"" he said.
 
""During the NAB Cup, like all clubs, we have had eight players on the bench but in Friday's game we will make things more game specific because the NAB Cup rules are not there.

 

""Our side will basically be as though we are playing the first round of the season and we will try and play guys next to each other who will play in Round 1.  

 

""We are treating this game as a full dress rehearsal for Round 1 because, really, this is our last chance to fine-tune our game against another club. Apart from Daniel Kerr, West Coast will be at full strength and it will be a big test for us - we rate them as a top four side."" 

 

Lloyd said he has recovered from hamstring soreness and is confident he will have no more ""hiccups"" during the year.

 

""Being such a long season I wanted to get on top of things properly now so they don't become a problem later,"" he said.

 

""This time last year I had played 4-5 practice games so, game wise, I am not as prepared as 2007 but this time last year I was also coming off 12 months of missing footy with a serious injury. 

 

""I did get all the pre-season training in this year but hurt myself before the first intra-club game which was unfortunate.

 

""There is still more than two week until Round 1 so I will use that time to get myself ready - in an ideal world I would have loved to play 2-3 games but that just hasn't happened.

 

""I feel nervous but I always feel nervous before a game. I won't put too much pressure on myself, I just want to get through the game - I really just want to get a few minutes into me because there is such a big difference between playing and training.

 

""Most likely I will only play half a game and judge how I am going, probably rotating between deep forward and high forward so I can get my hands on the footy a few times. Sometimes as a deep forward you only get a few touches and I want to get my hands on the ball a bit.""

 

The 2007 leading goal kicker for Essendon said Friday night, in many ways, is perfect preparation for the season despite a long plane trip.

 

""We have had a perfect lead-in to the season and to play the Eagles at near full-strength on a big oval where you really need to pressure your opponents is the perfect preparation and final tune-up to Round 1,"" he said.

 

""We got beaten in the midfield by St Kilda and weren't properly on the job after everything went to plan in the first few weeks. To have a  team like the Saints put us under such pressure when they did was great for us.

 

""We are working on our game plan and St Kilda tested us on all facets of our game before the season proper. We expect a similar type of game this week; West Coast will test everything we have been doing in training for over the past 4 months which will only make us better.""