ESSENDON can breathe a sigh of relief after top-10 draft pick Aaron Francis was cleared of a leg injury and is expected to be available this week.

The 18-year-old left the field early in Essendon's VFL clash on Sunday with a quad injury, with fears the exciting first-year defender had suffered a serious strain.

But Francis remains on track for a senior debut in the second half of the season after dodging an injury.

Match preview: Essendon v GWS

"He presented like he had a tear in his rectus femoris (quad)," Essendon’s head physiotherapist Peter Blanch told the club's website.

"Scans this morning showed that not to be the case, so it looked like it was just an irritation of the cork that he copped during training last week.

"He got back on the track this morning and got through 6.5 kilometres and it looks like he’ll be in training and available this weekend."

Francis was playing his third VFL game of the season having starred against Richmond's VFL side two weeks earlier.

Coach John Worsfold said before last week's loss to Sandringham that the No.6 NAB AFL Draft choice needed another three games at VFL level before being ready for senior selection.

His injury might push back that timeline, but is a positive result for the club as it enters what looms as a challenging second half of the season.

Blanch said the defender had felt discomfort after kicking early in the game.

"He had a big kick and felt some tightening in his quad," Blanch said.

"You don't have those sophisticated machines on the side of the field and, given his history, we played on the cautious side with him. 

"Luckily enough, he's going to be OK." 

In further injury news for the Bombers, key defender Michael Hartley is expected to be available this week against Greater Western Sydney after recovering from a hamstring injury.