Essendon has regained captain Dyson Heppell for its clash with North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Sunday, while mid-season draftee Sam Durham could potentially make his AFL debut.

After missing last week's win over Adelaide with a thumb injury, Heppell has slotted straight back into the Bombers' half-back line.

Durham joins fellow inclusions Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Nick Bryan and Brayden Ham (last week's sub) on an extended interchange, while injured midfielder Kyle Langford (hamstring) is the only confirmed out.

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The Bombers' 26-man squad will be reduced to 22 at 5pm AEST on Friday.

Should Durham be named in the 22-man team, he'll become the club's seventh AFL debutant this season.

Since crossing over from Richmond's VFL side, the 20-year old has impressed as a wingman in four VFL games for the Bombers.

ESSENDON'S ROUND 18 EXTENDED SQUAD:

Backs: Jayden Laverde, James Stewart, Mason Redman
Half-backs: Dyson Heppell (C), Jordan Ridley, Nick Hind
Centreline: Matt Guelfi, Zach Merrett, Nik Cox
Half-forwards: Devon Smith, Cale Hooker, Jake Stringer
Forwards: Alec Waterman, Peter Wright, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
Followers: Sam Draper, Darcy Parish, Will Snelling
Interchange from: Archie Perkins, Harrison Jones, Brayden Ham, Martin Gleeson, Tom Cutler, Nick Bryan, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Sam Durham

In: Heppell, Ham, Durham, Zerk-Thatcher, Bryan

Out: Langford (hamstring)