Essendon is set to regain veteran Cale Hooker and speedster Conor McKenna for its clash with Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

Hooker has been sidelined since round seven with a calf injury, but is available to play his 199th game in the round 14 match.

McKenna didn't make the trip to Darwin for the Dreamtime game, but has recovered from a hip injury. 

"Cale's tracking very well. He had a solid hitout on the weekend, trained fully with the group today, pulled up well and will be available to play against Hawthorn," head of medical services David Rundle said on Tuesday.

"Conor injured his hip against St Kilda. He strained the tensor fascia latae muscle just on the side of the pelvis. He wasn't able to run last week, but he's pulled up well this week, trained with the group today and is available to play."

The Bombers will make at least two forced changes this week, with Aaron Francis and Tom Bellchambers casualties from the loss to Richmond.

Francis' hamstring issue is on the minor end and expected to sideline him for one game.

Bellchambers, who has had a recurrence of the knee pain which forced him to miss the game against St Kilda, is set to miss two matches.

"Aaron developed hamstring soreness early in the first quarter and couldn't complete the game," Rundle said.

"We subsequently sent him for an MRI scan which has cleared him of any injury to the hamstring. He does remain symptomatic, however, and given it's a short turnaround, we'll be conservative with him and he won't be available to play this week.

"Tom hyperextended his knee against the Gold Coast Suns and sustained some bone bruising. He's pulled up sore (again) and won't be available this week.

Orazio Fantasia's quest to return by season's end has hit a roadblock, with the 24-year-old expected to miss up to six weeks after re-injuring his calf.

"Unfortunately Orazio has restrained that calf and extended the original injury," Rundle said.

"This will require an extended period of rehab of approximately five to six weeks. Obviously this is disappointing for Orazio and the club."

In positive news, captain Dyson Heppell (ankle) will rejoin full training over the next week, while Patrick Ambrose has entered the next phase of his rehabilitation from a Lisfranc injury.

"Each week Dyson is improving. He's building up his running loads and intensity, and you'll see him start to integrate with the main group over the next week," Rundle said.

"Pat had the Lisfranc injury or mid-foot sprain. He's progressing well. Over the last week, he's completed the first phase of his foot, ankle and calf strengthening. He'll move into the next phase now, which will prepare him to run."

The Bombers will release their line-up to face the Hawks at 6:20pm AEST on Wednesday.

INJURY LIST - ROUND 14: