ESSENDON forward Jake Carlisle is "very confident" he'll be right for the side's first final, despite a hamstring scare at training on Tuesday.
Initially the club feared he'd miss at least two matches, but now Carlisle says he'll miss one week only.
"It's not as bad as we thought which is really good - (I'm) just going to miss this week," he told reporters on Wednesday morning.
"(I) just overstrided yesterday at training, for a footy, and marked it.
"I put all the faith in the physio staff … I trust what they say, and it only will be a week, so that's positive."
Initially the club feared he'd miss at least two matches, but now Carlisle says he'll miss one week only.
"It's not as bad as we thought which is really good - (I'm) just going to miss this week," he told reporters on Wednesday morning.
"(I) just overstrided yesterday at training, for a footy, and marked it.
"I put all the faith in the physio staff … I trust what they say, and it only will be a week, so that's positive."
The 22-year-old is expected to only miss Saturday's clash against Carlton at the MCG.
"We are fortunate the strain is on the minor scale," performance manager Neil Craig said.
"Jake pulled up a little tight during a training drill and scans revealed he’d strained his hamstring.
"Knowing Jake and the professional standards he demands of himself, he’ll be doing everything to make sure he’s back out contributing to the team as soon as possible."
Carlisle has missed two games this season with a knee injury, kicking 27 goals in 19 games.
His ability to switch into defence and allow Michael Hurley to swing forward shaped as a major weapon for coach Mark Thompson in September.
