ESSENDON will rest its most experienced pre-season player, Dustin Fletcher, for Friday night’s NAB Cup semi-final with Collingwood at Docklands.

Joining the 33-year-old on the sidelines will be Mark McVeigh, who injured his ankle in last week's win over the Brisbane Lions, and in-form midfielder Andrew Lovett.

Across town, the Magpies have left captain Nick Maxwell and ruckman Josh Fraser out of their side as they search for their first pre-season grand final appearance since 2003.

The winner of this clash will meet Geelong or Carlton on Friday, March 13.

Collingwood has recalled former Lion Anthony Corrie, traded to the club for pick 93 in October's trade period.

Also selected are first-round draft pick Steele Sidebottom, forward Chris Dawes, ruckman Chris Bryan and Jaxson Barham, who is yet to play an AFL game after being taken in the 2007 draft.

Coming into Essendon's squad of 29 – which will be trimmed to 26 with two substitutes – are Nathan Lovett-Murray, Bachar Houli, Jarrod Atkinson and draftees Michael Hurley and David Zaharakis.

And experienced ball-winner Brent Stanton, whose pre-season has been stalled by a quad injury, will play his first game of the year.

Michael Hurley, selected at No. 5 in November's NAB AFL Draft, has recovered from surgery to remove his gall bladder.

Alwyn Davey's aim to play in round one will be strengthened by his second game in succession.

Coach Matthew Knights has said that Davey, who missed most of last year with a knee reconstruction, needed to play at least two pre-season games to be in that position.

Dream Team watch – Brent Stanton is rated a $413,300 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.