After an injury free round one Essendon selectors face the prospect of having to include one, probably two and possibly three premiership players into a side that won by 85-points. Michael Long has now completed the four-match suspension he earned in the Grand Final, Damien Hardwick is expected to have overcome a calf injury and Dean Wallis will also face a fitness test. Only Chris Heffernan, who is another five weeks away with a knee injury, is on the long-term injury list.

The Bombers will be desperate to avenge their embarrassing Ansett Cup loss to Port Adelaide when they hit Colonial Stadium this Friday night. The thrashing at the hands of Port Adelaide effectively ended their Ansett Cup campaign before it had started.

The only injury over the weekend for the bombers came in the VFL side's practice match against the Kangaroos. Bomber rookie Damien Peverill was knocked out close to half time and taken to hospital for observation. He will face a fitness test later this week.