Skipper Dyson Heppell has declared himself fit for Essendon's sudden-death AFL final against West Coast but Michael Hurley is touch and go for the trip to Perth.
Hurley suffered a partially dislocated shoulder during Friday night's loss to Collingwood, leaving him racing the clock to recover in time for Thursday week's elimination final.
Coach John Worsfold on Monday said the dual All-Australian was likely to need surgery post-season but would be given every chance to play against the Eagles.
"I think it's going to come down to the wire whether he plays or not," Worsfold told reporters.
"Knowing Hurls, he's going to have a real good crack at it.
"He's had the scans.
"Obviously the shoulder did come out and there's damage there but no different to that normal issue, (which is) a two-to-three week turnaround. We're hopeful that we can do that.
"He'll be doing everything he can that he needs to do to test that shoulder out, get some strength into it, get some movement into it while he's keeping up his training body."
With the Bombers having already locked in a finals berth, Heppell was rested against the Magpies to help manage a persistent foot injury.
He is confident of returning to face the premiers and is likely to be joined by fellow stars Orazio Fantasia, Jake Stringer and Cale Hooker.
"I had an (eight kilometre) session on Saturday so I'm feeling ready to go," Heppell said.
"I think I've turned a bit of a corner with it. We've put in a really good program in being able to manage it through the back half of this year.
"We've got it to quite a stable position but obviously it was pretty tender at times.
"I think I've (reached) a point where I'm not feeling it too much and I should be right to go."
Heppell noted that the pre-finals bye would allow him to complete a solid block of training, something he rarely managed during the home-and-away season.
Fantasia has been managing a hip issue, Stringer has had recurrent hamstring injuries and Hooker was a late withdrawal from Friday night's game after falling ill.
Australian Associated Press
