ESSENDON has been boosted by news that Michael Hurley has committed to a future at Windy Hill, however the emerging key position player could be among three changes for Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

Hurley is in a race to be fit because of a knee complaint, while midfielder Ricky Dyson (knee) will be sidelined for up to eight weeks and vice-captain Andrew Welsh is facing a three-game suspension, which the Bombers are yet to accept ahead of Tuesday night's tribunal.

Hurley's knee injury isn't serious, unlike the earlier prospect of losing the 19-year-old to a potential multi-million dollar offer from Gold Coast.

Coach Matthew Knights couldn't hide his delight when speaking of Hurley's decision.

“We've got a really great person on our hands in Michael Hurley,” Knights said on Tuesday morning.

“He's really enjoying the culture and the program and the Essendon football club … it's great to have him on board long-term.

“We're glad that he's with us, and I think he's glad that Essendon football club is with him. As a coach I'm really pleased that I'm going to be coaching him for the next few years.”

Hurley booted four goals in the Bombers’ 43-point win over Hawthorn on Saturday night, underlining his enormous potential.

His performance came after suffering a knock to a knee early in the clash. Knights said the former No.5 draft pick wouldn’t train on Tuesday but the Bombers hoped he would be able to prove his fitness later in the week.

His teammate hasn’t escaped so easily.

“Ricky Dyson [is] going to miss between four to eight weeks with a knee injury which is a blow,” Knights said.

“Ricky’s been a really consistent player and structurally very sound for us … his career’s really come on for us the last couple of years.

“We’ve got two or three question marks from a selection point of view at this stage.”

While Knights said forward Mark Williams still had “some work to do” before being considered for a senior recall, the coach nominated several youngsters for promotion against the Power.

Jake Melksham and Travis Colyer had a rest from football at the weekend but will be considered, while Ben Howlett, David Myers, Tyson Slattery and Leroy Jetta will all come into calculations at match committee.

And a week after a physical contest against the Hawks, Knights expects another fiery clash against a team that has dominated recent encounters between the two clubs.

Last year the Power won the team’s only meeting - in round one - at AAMI Stadium but the match was perhaps best remembered for a quarter-time scuffle which resulted in Power ruckman Dean Brogan being suspended for bumping former Bomber Andrew Lovett.

Despite the one-time Don having moved on, Knights said there was still plenty of heat between the camps.

“I think there’ll be a lot of feeling between both playing groups, there’s no question about that,” he said.

“You know you don’t look back on that and reflect week after week about it but the reality is we’re playing Port Power this week and the last time they played us they took care of us.

“What happened on the field that day, and I think post that day, was a bit of feeling from both playing groups, so it’ll be on and we look forward to that.”