In last week’s practice match, the Bombers won comfortably against the Swans at Optus Oval. But due to the stifling conditions, and a game restricted to shortened quarters it was a match where it was difficult to take too much from the result.

The Hawks on the other hand are coming off a second round NAB cup defeat by the Adelaide Crows.

After the match, Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson made public his disappointment that his team had been knocked out of the pre-season competition. A clear statement that the Hawks are serious about the 2006 pre-season and will be out to win on Friday night to grow the confidence of a rebuilding side.

Hawthorn will again play a very young team with several of its more experienced players looking to miss the game due to injury.

Shane Crawford who due to a knee injury has not yet played a competitive pre-season match for the Hawks remains a 50/50 chance in the game. His return would bring a wealth of experience into the young Hawthorn side, but with the season only weeks away, the risk may be too high to gamble on the clubs star player.

An injury cloud also hangs over Michael Osborne and Ben Dixon who will only be played if 100 per cent fit, while Peter Everitt and John Barker have already been ruled out of the match.

The Bombers will regain a couple of key players this week, none more so that Adam McPhee who has returned from injury and James Hird who has been taken off ice.

Dustin Fletcher and Matthew Lloyd will be rested for the match and in the absence of the usual Essendon book ends, Courtney Johns will most likely get the role at full forward, while Kepler Bradley will push deep in defence to fill the position of Fletcher.

Another of the young Essendon players will get his opportunity this weekend, when father-son draftee Jay Neagle will get his first run in the red and black.

The match kicks of at the Queen Elizabeth Oval tonight at 7pm.