Essendon are set to decide whether injured spearhead Joe Daniher returns this AFL season but coach John Worsfold insists a potential finals tilt won't influence their call.
Daniher, who is battling a debilitating groin injury, hasn't played since round seven but recently resumed light running duties.
Club doctors, coaches and conditioning staff will meet on Saturday to discuss Daniher's rehabilitation program and determine when he can return to football.
The Bombers initially struggled during Daniher's absence but have won four of their past five games to sit four points outside the top eight.
"I couldn't answer that," Worsfold said when asked if he expected Daniher to return this season.
"Joe's pretty happy with where he's at and where the program is.
"He's been swimming, doing some upper-body weights and he's started some light running, so he's progressing.
"On Saturday we'll map out where he's at now and what his program is to get him back to 100 per cent health. That won't take into account any time frames, it'll just be 'this is what it is going to take'."
Essendon will come up against the form team of the competition when they face second-placed Collingwood on Sunday at the MCG.
Collingwood cruised to victory in this year's Anzac Day clash between the two sides but the Bombers have clearly found another gear over the past month, capped by last week's exhilarating 19.11 (125) to 16.12 (108) win over North Melbourne.
The Bombers' willingness to use their speed to take the game on has been a key factor in their recent success and Worsfold said he was comfortable with his players continuing to throw caution to the wind.
"I'm happy to win 150 points to 130 if it's a win," Worsfold joked.
"It's not a focus of ours to play a high-scoring brand of footy but we want to play an exciting brand of footy, we want to be a team that people talk about and want to come and watch.
"If we can win a flag by being a well-rounded, exciting team then that's what we're trying to do."
