With up to a dozen senior players unavailable because of injury Essendon coach Matthew Knights is expecting to blood at least four new draftees in the club's opening NAB Cup fixture against the Western Bulldogs in Darwin.

Knights nominated the club's top selections at last year's national and pre-season drafts, key defender Michael Hurley and former Adelaide utility Hayden Skipworth as near certainties for the clash on February 13 while David Zaharakis is rated a 'good chance'.

Former West Adelaide youngster Tyson Slattery is another in the mix to be rewarded for a strong pre-season, and a shortage of fit big men may just open the door for gangling rookie ruckman Christian Bock.

"Potentially out of the eight or 10 we drafted, maybe half of them, maybe four might be ready to play," said Knights.

"It's more so whether they're physically ready to play and their loads are right."

Knights said that Jobe Watson, Patrick Ryder and Courtney Dempsey all need at least two more weeks to recover from shoulder surgery while Jason Laycock (foot) will be battling to be ready for the start of the season proper.

Mark McVeigh (broken toe) and Jason Winderlich (back) are not quite ready and David Hille may have been a chance had he not stepped on a stingray at St Kilda on Sunday.

Knee reconstruction pair Alwyn Davey and Brent Prismall have more rehab to complete, but Knights said Davey may be ready for the club's Round 1 clash against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium if all goes well.

"We're planning for him to play the last one or two practice matches," said Knights.

"I basically have said to Alwyn if he can complete two games I'm happy to go with him in Round 1 if his knee feels fine and the medical staff are fine."

"And Jason Winderlich has made significant ground."

"In the direction he's heading barring any more interruptions he could be right there for Round 1 also."

"Most of our guys are beginning to hone in on that area and looking pretty good apart from Prismall and (Darcy) Daniher and Laycock."