ESSENDON has suffered an injury blow, with recruit Xavier Duursma out for at least four weeks after injuring his quad at training on Wednesday.

Duursma has impressed for the Bombers this year since crossing from Port Adelaide, but will now be sidelined for at least a month.

Essendon play Greater Western Sydney this Saturday before games against North Melbourne (meaning he will miss the chance to play against younger brother Zane for the first time), Richmond and Gold Coast.

Duursma described the injury as a "pretty decent tear".

"It was at training. I came in feeling as good as I have, felt like I could have played yesterday – there was no tightness, there was no warning. And that's the frustrating and really disappointing part, because I don't know why it happened," Duursma told AFL.com.au.

"It was a game sense drill, and I went to have a hard deceleration and change of direction, at the same time, and I've done that movement a thousand times before, and twice already that day, and all of a sudden as I went to kick on my right, the left leg went.

Xavier Duursma during Essendon's match against Collingwood on Anzac Day, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

"I just wanted a nice, clean run. I feel like I've had a really strong start to the year, so it's incredibly frustrating when I feel like I've been doing a lot of things right, and then something goes wrong."

While he hasn't had a major soft tissue injury in the past (aside from a few minor hamstring concerns), Duursma missed 10 weeks last year with a PCL issue.

Duursma has averaged 19 disposals this season, including a season high of 26 against the Power in round four, and kicked four goals in eight games.

The Bombers currently sit in fifth spot with four wins, two losses and the Anzac Day draw against Collingwood.

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While Duursma will miss the Giants clash on Saturday, Jye Caldwell trained on Wednesday and is expected to face his former club despite being substituted out last week's win over West Coast due to calf tightness.

After missing the Eagles game due to a knee injury, ruckman Sam Draper is also pushing for a return. He had his leg strapped and he looked proppy early in Wednesday's training, with a call to be made on Thursday.

Young defender Zach Reid (hamstring) could return via the VFL.