A LOT has changed since Essendon beat Carlton back in round three, but Bombers coach Matthew Knights is quietly confident going into Sunday's re-match at the MCG.

In-form forward Brendan Fevola has been a key figure in pre-match planning, but Knights says his side will need to do a lot more than keep the Coleman medallist quiet to come away with a win.

"He’s had 14 shots on goal last week which is a pretty good output in a 100-minute game, so therefore he is in hot form,” Knights said from Windy Hill on Thursday.

“I guess he and Lance Franklin are the two [forwards] that are getting big bags aren’t they? Obviously he’s a big part of the way we’re planning, but they've got a midfield that is providing great inside 50 work and they’re getting a lot of opportunities in to him.

"What they are getting is a really even contribution at the moment from a lot of players, and that's really significant for them.

“They’ve got some quality right across the board, but we can't focus on Fevola because it will leave others open.”

Since Essendon prevailed by 16 points over Carlton, the Bombers have managed just one win in nine rounds to drop out of finals contention while the Blues have muscled into the top eight with six wins.

But Knights wasn’t interested in comparing the differing fortunes of the two sides.

“To say whether they’re further advanced or how their rebuilding is going is really their business,” he said.

“I’m only concentrating on the Essendon footy club and … how we’re developing our players.”

Skipper Matthew Lloyd’s use further up the field was a key factor in last week’s win over West Coast and Knights revealed the skipper will be given license to roam up the ground as he seeks to develop his forward line.

“It’s fair to say that is a philosophy that we will go after aggressively for the rest of the year,” he said.

“At times he might play deep forward during games or he might start deep forward, but it will depend very much on who we play.

“The very good sides have got a lot of scoring options. He understands that’s not going to happen every week, but as long as he’s going after his role aggressively and he’s leading the troops, I’m comfortable as a coach.”

Prior to the Eagles’ game Lloyd had struggled with his form for the better part of two months, but Knights scoffed at suggestions it was time to start thinking about a succession plan for the captaincy.

“It hasn’t entered my mind yet because I just rate Matthew Lloyd as a fantastic captain and I know that because I’m dealing with him on a daily basis and seeing him operate,” he said.

“It hasn’t even entered my mind and he’s played great footy being captain.

“Unless Matthew wants to talk to me about it I don’t think it’s a topic.”