ESSENDON is set to welcome back up to five senior players for Friday night's clash with Melbourne at Docklands.

Dustin Fletcher, Andrew Welsh and Kyle Reimers are expected to come into the side, while Jason Winderlich and Henry Slattery are possibles to line up against the Dees.

Fletcher broke his leg in his 300th game back in round six and will come straight back into the side, while Reimers and Welsh will return after making successful comebacks in their two matches for the Bendigo Bombers.

Coach Matthew Knights warned that simply including senior players in the squad would not automatically improve the team's performance.

Knights said everyone in the team had to bring the required intensity if they were to win.

"The senior players coming back into our line-up is a real bonus, because you would think five or six senior bodies that are fresh would be able to help with our form-line," he said at Windy Hill on Tuesday morning.

"However, they must come and play with the intensity and the form that they've shown for their careers, because otherwise it doesn't guarantee anything.

"It's a tough  league, but you can still only put 22 out there, so unless the guys that are coming in having come back off injury are going to make a solid impact, it can't guarantee that your form-line is going to improve.”
 
Knights said Fletcher, Welsh – who broke his leg in the pre-season – and Reimers (quad) were expected to line up against the Dees.

"All will play on Friday night, pending today's training session. Fletcher will come in, it's been seven weeks now for Dustin, he's had a good three or four weeks on the training track, so he'll come into the side.

"We're looking to bring Andrew Welsh back in, which has been a marvellous comeback – we can all remember the horrific injury – and to come back and fight back the way he has, and to do his rehab has just been sensational. He's a magnificent leader at our club.

"We think Kyle will get better as the year goes on also."

Less certain to play are Jason Winderlich and Henry Slattery.

"Jason's first major training session is today – if he gets through he'll come back into the 22.

"Slattery would have to really impress me today to come into the team.

"Those two guys are probably still question marks."

Meanwhile, the club has confirmed via its website that Jason Laycock's foot injury will see him miss the rest of the season.