Injury has once again forced John Worsfold to rejig Essendon's forward line, but the coach is at least confident he will have Devon Smith and Orazio Fantasia available to take on Geelong.
Smith's persistent knee issue flared during the Bombers' gut-wrenching Anzac Day loss to Collingwood, a match that Fantasia missed through illness.
But confidence is growing that the star duo are set to feature against the Cats at the MCG on Sunday.
"They're coming along well and we're hopeful that they'll both be available," Worsfold told reporters.
"We'll find out if they get through training, but that's not necessarily the final decision either. We may be able to wait and see how they are later as well.
"(Smith) may be fit today and we're all comfortable, so it's a bit of an unknown with him because it's a chronic knee ... it's not like one specific little thing that's the issue.
"He's a bit harder to read, but he could get through today and feel great. If not we'll have to make a decision whether we want to name him or give him a little bit more time."
Both names appeared in Essendon's extended squad released on Thursday, along with Sam Draper, Kyle Langford, Aaron Francis, Ben McNiece and Josh Begley.
The Bombers' hot and cold forward line hasn't been helped by regular personnel changes this season, but at least centrepiece Joe Daniher is fit and firing after his return from a long-term injury in round five.
However, Worsfold must find an effective foil for Daniher following the fractured wrist suffered by Mitch Brown against the Magpies.
Brown joined fellow tall forwards James Stewart (groin) and Shaun McKernan (hamstring) on the sidelines.
After starting the season in defence, Francis has been switched to attack at VFL level and looms as a possible replacement for Brown with the squad to be trimmed back to the final 22 on Friday.
Essendon will be looking to make it three wins in as many seasons in the annual Country game between the sides that aims to celebrate the contribution of rural Victoria.
"We're certainly not sitting here thinking, 'Let's just replicate exactly what happened last year'," Worsfold said.
"We're looking at what we're doing this year, we've made some changes, Geelong have made some changes, so it's two teams going differently at it."
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