Essendon will welcome back star forward Jake Stringer and unearth debutants Archie Perkins and Alec Waterman against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

The trio join Matt Guelfi and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher as inclusions for the round three clash, with Dylan Shiel (knee), Sam Draper (ankle), Jye Caldwell (hamstring) and omitted pair Martin Gleeson and Ned Cahill making way.

As revealed on Thursday, Perkins and Waterman will become the club's latest AFL debutants since Harrison Jones and Nik Cox since round one.

The pair will be part of a 13-man contingent to have played less than 50 games, with the Bombers set to field their most inexperienced side (61 games per player) since round 22, 2010.

Stringer's return will free up forward Peter Wright to shoulder the ruck load, with second-year ruckman Nick Bryan named an emergency and journeyman Andrew Phillips in need of more continuity in training.

The Bombers will take on the Saints from 4:35pm AEDT. Check out our match preview and match-day guide.

ESSENDON'S ROUND THREE TEAM:

Backs: Jayden Laverde, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Aaron Francis
Half-backs: Matt Guelfi, Jordan Ridley, Nick Hind
Centre: Andrew McGrath, Zach Merrett, Nik Cox
Half-forwards: Devon Smith, Cale Hooker, Archie Perkins
Forwards: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Harrison Jones, Alec Waterman
Followers: Peter Wright, Darcy Parish, Brayden Ham
Interchange: Mason Redman, Kyle Langford, Will Snelling, Jake Stringer

Emergencies: Tom Cutler, Nick Bryan, Martin Gleeson, Ned Cahill

In: Stringer, Perkins, Waterman, Guelfi, Zerk-Thatcher

Out: Shiel (knee), Draper (ankle), Caldwell (hamstring), Gleeson (omitted), Cahill (omitted)

New: Perkins (Sandringham Dragons), Waterman (Claremont Tigers)