SYDNEY'S selection dilemma is heating up, with big men Sam Naismith, Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair all expected to be fit for Saturday's elimination final with Essendon at the SCG.

Naismith impressed in the NEAFL preliminary final against Gold Coast after missing a month with a hip complaint, picking up 17 disposals in about 80 minutes of game time last Saturday.

Tippett and Sinclair each suffered minor ankle injuries in the round 23 victory against Carlton but should be ready to take on the Bombers, if called upon.

Mega-preview: Second elimination final, Sydney v Essendon

"The bye has certainly been beneficial for those two players. Hard to know whether they would have got up to play if there was a game last week. I suspect they probably would have," football manager Tom Harley told sydneyswans.com.au.

"Both boys have trained and we've got another final training session for Thursday morning, where we'll settle on the team, but I'm fully envisaging that Kurt and Callum, along with Sam, will be available."

Naismith lined up in eight consecutive matches before being sidelined.

It's been a tough year for Tippett, 30, with just nine games in the senior side this year. He has replaced Naismith since round 20 and has averaged 11 disposals and a goal in that time.

Sinclair has been selected in John Longmire's team 17 times this year, including the final six rounds of the season.

Tough forward Tom Papley should overcome a knee complaint, having taken to the track on Tuesday.

"He hadn't done a lot of training up until today, so that was a really good hurdle for him to clear and we'll see on Thursday. Not expecting any issues with Tom," Harley said.

A hip concern won't keep Dan Hannebery out of the final.

"He's trained strongly today on Tuesday morning, will do again on Thursday morning and expect to see Dan on Saturday night against the Bombers," Harley said.