As many as seven premiership players could return to the Essendon side that will take on Richmond at Lavington in a practice match this Friday night. Michael Long, Joe Misti, Mark Mercuri, Mark Johnson, Dean Solomon, Matthew Lloyd will certainly play while Adam Ramanauskas will undergo a fitness test to determine if he plays. You can add Dean Rioli to that group as well - he has fully recovered from a groin strain -making it the strongest side the reigning premiers have selected this pre-season. All eight players plus James Hird and Chris heffernan were missing from the side that lost to Melbourne last Saturday.

Only James Hird (calf), Dean Wallis and Chris Heffernan (knee) will be missing from the Bombers 2000 premiership side. ""We haven't had a great run with injuries during the pre-season so we need these players to get a game under their belt before the real stuff begins,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said.

Hird is recovering well from a calf strain and while he won't play this weekend, he is expected to play in the season opener against the Kangaroos. ""He is progressing well and he might play a half in next weeks intra-club match. At the moment we are very confident he will play in the first home and away match,"" Drain said. ""His lack of football isn't a real concern. He played on a limited preparation at the start of last season and was very good for us early in the early rounds.""

Drain said that Heffernan's rehabilitation was also going to plan. The star midfielder dislocated a knee cap at training three weeks ago.