At 30 years of age and in his 15th season, Lloyd could be forgiven for side-stepping the NAB Cup/Challenge fixture. But, the three-time Coleman Medallist believes he has a sufficient fitness base to participate in most of the summer series and launch himself in the premiership season at full pace.
"Darwin I'm still not too sure about, whether we'll play a younger side or not, but I'd like to play three games leading into the season," Lloyd told afl.com.au at the Essendon’s Telstra AFL Community Camp visit in Melton on Friday.
"Whatever happens in Darwin, I'll play the remaining three games leading into round one.
"I feel pretty confident that I'm going to have a good season.
"I had a pretty interrupted pre-season last year and I probably didn't have the best start to the season, which hurt me.
"I'll play most of the practice games leading up to round one."
Lloyd backed off the pace shortly before Christmas when he felt his veteran body offer up a warning.
He now believes the brief break from full training is what has contributed to the realistic chance he'll play in most of the Bombers' pre-season campaign.
"I had a bit of hammy tightness so I was just making sure that didn't flare up into a strain, which I've had plenty of before," he said.
"I feel fantastic and ready to attack my 15th season. It feels like it was only yesterday I started."
Midfielder Brent Stanton will be another Bomber to miss the opening pre-season match but, like his captain, is expected to return from a minor quad strain and play in the rest of the NAB Cup.
See what else the Essendon skipper had to say about the Bombers' young guns and upcoming season here http://bigpondvideo.com/afl/105202.
