Essendon are weighing up multiple selection changes for Saturday's matchup with Gold Coast as further injuries have struck the Bombers over the bye.
Kyle Langford (quad), Mason Redman (hamstring) and Darcy Parish (calf) won't face the Suns due to ailments sustained over the weekend.
The matter has reportedly compounded, with defender Zach Reid believed to have suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
According to 7 News' Mitch Cleary, Reid is feared to have hurt his hamstring again at training.
Speaking to media ahead of the club's latest training session, coach Brad Scott had revealed both Reid and fellow defender Jordan Ridley (hamstring) were "medically cleared" after stints out of action.
"They're medically available," Scott said prior to the club's session on Wednesday.
"The bye came at a good time in a sense. We would've had a difficult decision to make last week with a number of players as to whether they were ready to play. That becomes a little bit easier with the extra week.
"They're both medically cleared, but we've got to make a decision on risk mitigation. You can only take the advice you get. They've done everything they've needed to and more.
"We'll make a decision post-training."
The injury to Parish will force one change, with midfielder Sam Durham to return from a two-game suspension, while Ridley is also tipped to return for the Marvel Stadium match.
Scott could look to Mid-Season Draft recruit Liam McMahon for a debut, with the key forward already Essendon's top goalkicker in the VFL after a stellar start to the season with Carlton's reserves.
While McMahon is "a good chance" to make a debut, Scott admitted it'll be a "challenge" to fit him into the side.
"He's a good chance," the Essendon coach said.
"Anytime you've got a guy who's leading the goalkicking in the VFL for two clubs suggests he's in pretty good form this year.
"We recruited him for the position he plays best, which is forward, but we know he's got capability in the back half as well.
"It's a fine line decision there, especially with the availability (among the forwards) OK. It's a real challenge for us, because we've got some unavailability, but we've got a lot of very good players playing in the VFL."
Another selection consideration for this week is the ruck setup at the Bombers, with one-gamer Vigo Visentini showing promise in his debut prior to the bye as veteran Todd Goldstein was rested.
Scott said he'll have to weigh up recalling Goldstein or backing in Visentini for another week, with one of the Essendon talls set to take on Suns ruckman Jarrod Witts.
"It's another decision to be made," Scott said.
"I said post-game (after the Fremantle match) that won't be the game of AFL football Vigo Visentini plays.
"What was in Vigo's control was his competitiveness, his ability to follow up at ground level. He showed he's going to be an AFL player for the future.
"We just have to pick the team based on what's available. It was a considered decision to give 'Goldy' the two weeks off given he's done a power of work for us and there's still a long way to go in the season for us.
"If we do bring 'Goldy' back and go with one ruck, it won't be because we were disappointed with Vigo."
Essendon will host Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday at 12:35pm (AEST).
