Essendon will get a much-needed boost at the selection table this week with vice-captain Sean Wellman and centre half forward Scott Lucas certain starters against Fremantle. Both players will join in full scale training this week and barring accidents will line-up in what now shapes as a very important match for the Bombers. Wellman has missed the past two matches with a hamstring injury while Lucas has been sidelined with a hip flexor injury.

And Paul Salmon could also make his return to football this weekend although it may be via the VFL side. ""Paul is very close and it is a matter of whether we give him a couple of quarters in the VFL side and bring him back for the Carlton game or put him straight in to the seniors. We could also give him one more week to be absolutely certain he is fully fit,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said.

It is welcome news for the Bombers who were not only beaten in the Anzac Day clash with Collingwood but also lost mid-fielder Damien Peverill with a broken arm. Peverill miss the next six to eight weeks after having the arm operated on last Friday.

The only other injury news out of the weekend came in the VFL match where Ted Richards suffered concussion after a heavy knock late in the game against Williamstown. His condition will be monitored this week before a decision is made on whether he plays this weekend.