Essendon selectors have recalled two premiership stars for Saturday night's clash with Brisbane at the Gabba. Chris Heffernan makes his long-awaited return to senior football after recovering from a knee injury while Dustin Fletcher is back after missing the Hawthorn game with a groin strain. The pair replace Justin Blumfield who will be missing for at least a month with a knee injury and Rob Forster-Knight who was omitted. Marc Bullen and Judd Lalich have been named as emergencies for the game along with Forster-Knight.

But it is the return of Heffernan that was the big news at the selection table this afternoon. Heffernan hasn't played senior football this season after injuring his knee during a pre-season training drill. With the Bombers' mid-field decimated by injury in recent weeks, Heffernan's return is a timely one. He is one of the Bombers best defensive mid-fielders in but he can be very creative the other way.

Fletcher was always expected to return this week after being a lte withdrawal last weekend. ""He missed last week as a pre-caution as much as anything,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""He had been sore and if it had been aggravated he could have missed quite a few weeks.""

Drain said the decision to play Heffernan had been made after training on Wednesday night. ""He moved very well and is a naturally fit player. We have no doubt he will handle his return to senior football,"" he said. Heffernan played just over a half in the VFL game against Box Hill Hawks last weekend and collected 16 possessions and took five marks.

So the Bombers' injury list has slightly diminished and with luck will continue to do so in the coming weeks. The Bombers face St Kilda and Adelaide following Brisbane and then have the week's rest because of the split round. By round 13 the Bombers should have Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Steven Alessio, Dean Wallis and Michael Long back in action.

THE Essendon VFL team for this weekend is:

Backs: D. Johnson Sheppard Goldsworthy
Half Backs: Goddard Hunt Cranage
Centres: Bannister Forster-Knight Hall
Half Forwards: Davies Richards Lalich
Forwards: Switala Mahoney Hawkins
Followers: Hille Bullen Denham
Bench: Dukes Clarke Murphy Podsiadly

Ther VFL side plays the Northern Bullants at Cramer Street, Preston on Sunday, June 3rd.