ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights has forecast changes to the Bombers line-up this week, despite Saturday night's rousing win over Carlton.

Knights said the Bombers are in a "really healthy" situation selection-wise, with a handful of players in the frame for this Sunday's clash with North Melbourne.

"The 22 guys that played last week did a really good job for the club -- they played hard. But we'll (the match selection committee) meet at 2 o'clock this afternoon," Knights said at Windy Hill on Tuesday morning.

"Mark McVeigh will definitely come into the equation – he’s definitely put his hand up to play. Sam Lonergan is physically right to play. Adam McPhee comes back from suspension, and Michael Quinn has recovered form a bout of gastro.

"Nathan Lovett-Murray and Bachar Houli played really well in the VFL, so those names will also come up for selection.

A glut of healthy, in-form players is a pleasant problem, but not one Knights has had to deal with too often.

"It's not something we've had over the last 12 months, that healthy situation where we've got three or four guys putting their hands up for selection, and therefore it puts pressure on the selected team."

Knights admitted there could be an "unlucky loser" among the Bombers this week, considering the limited number of spots available.

"It's not great at any time to speak to a player and say, 'You're not in the senior 22', but that will probably happen this week where there will be potentially a couple players that will be a little bit stiff," he said.

"Whether they miss out because they didn't come into the team or because they were in last week's 22 and didn't get selected, there could be both elements there."

Knights said 2008 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Kyle Reimers had overcome a quad injury, but would not play for a little while yet.

"It's a conditioning element now. His injury is really healing quite well and now he has to get some conditioning through his running and kicking, so hopefully he's available for selection in two or three weeks," he said.


"It's Kyle's career on the line here so we're going to be patient because we really rate him as a young player."

The Bombers will meet North Melbourne this Sunday at Docklands a week after the Kangaroos were destroyed by Hawthorn by 54 points.

Knights said he would prepare for the Roos to come out firing after they received much criticism for their uneven performance against the premiers.

"It was a difficult game for them. Being the premiership side, Hawthorn is a quality team and they're going to beat most teams on their day," he said.

"We understand the Kangaroos are going to come out full throttle, as they're a very proud club, so this game is pretty big for us, playing against a really contested ball team that is really physical."