Essendon could be boosted by the return from injury of up to seven first-choice players for Sunday's clash with Sydney, according to senior coach Matthew Knights.
Knights said the most experienced of the contenders, Dustin Fletcher, who strained an adductor on Anzac Day, and Mark McVeigh, sidelined for the past four weeks with a torn hamstring, would need to impress at Wednesday's main training session to be considered.
"Then you also look at players like Sam Lonergan and Kyle Reimers … they could also be available but, again, they would have to come through with flying colours." Knights said at Windy Hill on Tuesday.
Others in the selection mix would include Adam Ramanauskas (virus) and Jason Winderlich (groin), both of whom missed the Bombers' Round 7 loss to Port Adelaide.
Knights agreed the week's break for the Hall of Fame Tribute match - where the Bombers were not represented - had been beneficial by allowing him to get some extra work into his players.
"We've had some really spirited sessions on the training track, the players have been really aggressive and up and about," he said.
"I've been really proud of the way they've attacked the football in the last two weeks even though we haven’t played a game."
"I think that's an indication of the spirit of the group and where they're trying to head."
Despite the fact the Bombers have conceded more points than any other team so far this season and have lost their past four matches by an average of 51 points, Knights said he would continue to encourage his players to take the game on and to be creative.
Accountability, he said, would come later, though he stressed the Bombers will be playing to win in Sydney on Sunday.
"We've felt the pinch a bit in the last month, but by no means are we looking to go down," Knights said.
"If you're playing in this league or coaching in this league … you're here to play finals footy whether you've got a mature list or a young list."
"Going to Sydney on Sunday, we're going to be cranking right up to try and win the footy game whatever 22 players we take up there, so there's no talk of bottoming-out or hitting rock bottom.
"That would be a blight on the Essendon footy club."