The Bombers take on top-of -the-table Geelong on Saturday night at the same venue where Western Bulldogs midfielder Shaun Higgins suffered an ankle injury last weekend.
Higgins rolled his ankle after slipping on the surface and taking a large divot out of the field in the process.
The Bulldog could miss up to six weeks with the injury.
The incident - and another involving Collingwood's Leigh Brown, who also dislodged a piece of the turf - reopened debate about the suitability of the playing surface at Etihad Stadium.
Knights admitted that player safety was a cause for concern but stop short of singling out the surface at the venue for criticism.
“If we need our people to go and have a look at the ground and inspect [it] with the AFL we’ll do so,” Knights said from Windy Hill on Tuesday morning.
“I’m expecting the ground to be in tip-top shape for Friday night’s game (between North Melbourne and Carlton).
“I’m sure the AFL don’t want players to be injured, so I’m sure they’re going to do their very best to get the ground right in the short period they’ve got to work with.”
Essendon is among a number of clubs which used Etihad Stadium as a home ground.
Knights said his players - who last played at the venue on May 28 - didn’t have any major issue with the surface.
“I can only go from my players. I mean I’m not playing, I’m sitting a long way away,” he said.
“Certainly the last time we played there ... I didn’t get any negative connotations or dialogue coming back from my players, so I can only take that on face value.
“I haven’t given it a second thought, the Etihad surface.”
Earlier this week, Magpie Dale Thomas said he was unsure whether the surface was to blame for injuries such as Higgins'.
However, on Monday outspoken Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett wrote to the AFL Commission, Etihad Stadium boss Ian Collins and 15 club presidents pleading for action to be taken about the ground’s surface.
