Essendon skipper James Hird looks set to make a successful return to AFL football if his pre-season training is anything to go by.

Hird has impressed both coaching and medical staff with his performance pre-season and his injured foot is giving him no pain.

Selectors are still weighing up whether or not to play Hird in the looming Ansett Cup series which kicks off against West Coast in Darwin on January 28.

Hird has not played senior football since round two of last season when he re-injured the navicular bone in his right foot.

The stress fracture healed slowly and he made an unsuccessful bid to return for last year's finals series.

However, the prolonged break from the game has given his foot time to heal more fully and medical staff are quietly confident he will play a significant role for the Bombers in the upcoming season.

"He is training exceptionally well and that is great news for everyone associated with Essendon Football Club," Football Manager Matthew Drain said.

"He is sprinting faster than he has previously in his career and the fact he is doing that and feeling no pain is a bonus.

"At this stage, regardless of whether he plays in the Ansett Cup, we expect him to play in the season opener against Port Adelaide at Colonial Stadium."

Essendon will name a squad of 28 for the West Coast match on Wednesday, November 26.