Rugged Essendon forward Paul Barnard is a certain starter against Richmond tonight after easily getting through an early-morning fitness test at Windy Hill. Barnard was forced to leave the ground late last week after suffering a bruised knee late in the match. ""We just wanted to do a final check on him but he got through it easily and will play tonight,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""He did some agility running and pulled up well so its all systems go.""