Colonial Stadium is expected to be close to capacity this Sunday afternoon when the Bombers play one of their most important home and away matches for some time. The Bombers take on a rampant Sydney side that has won its past five matches and there is plenty riding on the result. Should Essendon win on Sunday, one more victory in its following three matches would sew up the minor premiership. More importantly the side will have bounced back from successive losses. For Sydney, victory would make a finals appearance certain and continue its climb up the ladder. It should be a sensational game.

And the Bombers looked very sharp on the training track this afternoon as they prepared for the match. Adam Ramanauskas (flu), James Hird (ankle), Dean Wallis (hamstring) and John Barnes (general soreness) spent the night indoors while the rest of the squad was put through a 90-minute session. Michael Long moved exceptionally well during the session as he continues to work his way back to full fitness. He will again line-up in the VFL side.

Dean Rioli (calf), Justin Blumfield (knee) and Mark Johnson (shoulder) all trained strongly and look certain to return this weekend - the first two probably coming through the VFL side. The Essendon selectors face a tough night at the selection table with both Hird and Matthew Lloyd certain to miss. Kevin Sheedy has also intimated that some out-of-form players may return to the VFL side.

The group of VFL players in contention for a senior berth this week include David Hille, Judd Lalich, Marc Bullen, Jordan Bannister and Aaron Henneman. ""That group of VFL players have been very good and will certainly be looked at closely when we sit down to select the side,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""It will just be a matter of which way we decide to go tactically - we have faith that this group can do whatever job we need them to.""

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