Essendon has made four changes this week, with utility Nik Cox making his long-awaited return to the senior side after a hard battle back from nearly two years ravaged by concussion symptoms.
Jade Gresham is coming in for injured small forward Isaac Kako who has gone down with a back stress injury.
Young defender-turned-forward Jayden Nguyen and draftee Max Kondogiannis have been named in the starting 23, with Elijah Tsatas omitted from the side and Archie May out to an MCL injury.
Darcy Parish will be managed this week as planned.
The Dons go head-to-head with the Lions from 12:35pm (AEST) on Saturday afternoon.
