Essendon will be without mid-fielder Blake Carcella for Saturday night's top-of-the-table clash with Hawthorn at Colonial Stadium. Caracella was to have been given until Saturday morning to prove his fitness but the coaching and medical staff decided this morning they would not take a risk with him. ""He has some ligament damage in his shoulder and while it is improving we just couldn't see it getting to the point where he could play,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said.

The condition of Bomber captain James Hird was being assessed this morning and a decision will be made later today on whether he plays against Hawthorn. ""We just want to have another look at him today. He's doubtful but hasn't been ruled out at this stage,"" Drain said.

If both Hird and Caracella miss, the Bombers will have seven premiership players sidelined this weekend. Players already missing this are Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Michael Long, Dean Wallis and Steven Alessio. Another premiership player - Chris Heffernan - will return through the VFL side this Sunday against the Box Hill Hawks.

Assuming all players rehabilitation goes to plan it could be another month before they are all back playing. It will be a month where the Bombers depth is going to be tested to the absolute limit.