Star Essendon centre half forward Scott Lucas will have to prove his fitness later this week if he is to be included in the Essendon's team to take on Richmond this Friday night. Lucas felt some soreness in his thigh during Saturday night's match against Geelong and was taken from the ground mainly as a precautionary measure. Lucas did not train at Essendon Grammar this afternoon and his condition will be assessed later in the week.

""We hadn't planned on him playing four quarters against Geelong anyway because he had missed the previous four weeks,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""He was sore when he left the ground and is still feeling it a little today. We will just have to see how he improves over the next few days. The short week doesn't help but he is still a good chance of coming up.""

Lucas was outstanding for the Bombers on Saturday night working extremely hard at centre half forward. Lucas racked up 12 possessions in the first quarter and was a real focal point for the Essendon mid-field. Essendon will need him to be fit if they are to get over the top of a very impressive Richmond side.

Aaron Henneman missed training this afternoon but will play against the Tigers. Henneman left the ground with cramp on Saturday night and trained lightly indoors. Adam Ramanauskas also trained lightly after receiving a knock to the back against Geelong and he too will play this Friday night.

The ruck duties will again be left to David Hille and Aaron Henneman with Steven Alessio and Paul Salmon still sidelined with achilles and calf injuries respectively.