Essendon was tonight put through a sharp 90-minute session by coach Kevin Sheedy in preparation for this Saturday's preliminary final re-match with Carlton.

Inspirational vice-captain Michael Long didn't train with the side because of a badly corked hip and has been ruled out of Saturday's match.

Dean Solomon ran laps during the early part of the session before heading into the gym.

Solomon had some calf soreness after last weekend 's match with Hawthorn but is expected to be fully fit to tackle the Blues this weekend.

The selectors will have a number of options when they sit down to select the side to play Carlton.

Adam Ramanauskas has recovered from a virus which kept him out of last weekend's match and he looks the most likely replacement for Long.

However, as the selectors showed last weekend, they are prepared to make changes to the senior side despite its winning form.

Sean Denham, Mark Fraser and Blake Caracella felt the selectors wrath last weekend and returned to the VFL.

Fraser won a late reprieve when Ramanauskas pulled out with a virus. Denham and Caracella both did their time and played extremely well in the reserves win over Werribee.

As Kevin Sheddy said after training last night: "You wouldn't want to be complacent at Essendon this year."

So it's all systems go for the Bombers who will be very keen to atone for last year's preliminary final loss.

"We owe it to oursleves to play very, very well this week," Sheedy said.