No.9 draft pick Archie Perkins will line up against the Blues on Thursday. (Photo: AFL Photos)

Essendon has named five recruits in a 26-man squad to face Carlton in a practice match at Ikon Park on Thursday.

Top-10 draftees Nik Cox and Archie Perkins will join trade acquisitions Jye Caldwell, Nick Hind and Peter Wright as the new faces in the first of the Bombers' two pre-season games.

Captain Dyson Heppell will lead out his teammates after a strong return from injury in last week's match simulation session, while emerging young forward Harrison Jones will be keen to impress as he pushes for a round one debut.

The match will be played behind closed doors as per an AFL directive from 11am, but streamed live and exclusively for all Bombers members.

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The Bombers will round out their pre-season campaign against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday next week as part of the AAMI Community Series.

PRACTICE MATCH SQUAD:

2 - Sam Draper
3 - Darcy Parish
4 - Kyle Langford
5 - Devon Smith
6 - Jye Caldwell
7 - Zach Merrett
8 - Martin Gleeson
9 - Dylan Shiel
10 - Aaron Francis
12 - Tom Cutler
13 - Nik Cox
14 - Jordan Ridley
15 - Jayden Laverde
16 - Archie Perkins
17 - James Stewart
19 - Nick Hind
20 - Peter Wright
21 - Dyson Heppell
23 - Harrison Jones
24 - Nick Bryan
26 - Cale Hooker
28 - Ned Cahill
33 - Brayden Ham
35 - Matt Guelfi
40 - Will Snelling
43 - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

Missing: Andrew McGrath, David Zaharakis, Michael Hurley, Irving Mosquito, Jake Stringer, Mason Redman, Patrick Ambrose, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Zach Reid, Josh Eyre, Andrew Phillips, Lachlan Johnson, Dylan Clarke, Cody Brand, Cian McBride, Tom Hird