ESSENDON coach John Worsfold admits Joe Daniher will likely play on modified minutes in the Bombers' season opener as he continues to build towards peak fitness.
Having come through two JLT Community Series matches unscathed on the comeback from osteitis pubis, Daniher remains on a "strict" program 11 days out from round one against Greater Western Sydney.
The 2017 All Australian completed 56 per cent of game time against Carlton on February 28, before backing up for 73 per cent against Geelong seven days later.
Provided Daniher recovers fully from training sessions in the next week, Worsfold will be placing his magnet firmly on the board for the season opener.
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"Absolutely (we'll consider modified minutes). His program will dictate what he's ready for when we get closer to the season," Worsfold said.
"Every day he's tested and every day his program could change according to how he pulls up from training.
"He might explode out of the blocks and be up and about because we know he's a talented player, but I don't have that expectation … that's not necessarily kicking seven goals in round one.
"The No.1 thing we wanted to see out of Joey (in pre-season) was how he coped with full match play. He's pulled up really well out of that slow build.
"Now he's on a program that we'll be pretty strict with in terms of prepping him for the whole year, so he'll follow that in the lead-up."
The Bombers' selection committee will sit down for the first time on Thursday to have a proper look at the make-up of the side for the clash with the Giants.
With Daniher expected to feature on restricted game time, Worsfold said it opened the door for any combination of Shaun McKernan, Mitch Brown and James Stewart to be considered.
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Worsfold also revealed injured defenders Mason Redman and Marty Gleeson would both make their returns in a VFL practice match next Saturday.
Both will take part in portions of the hitout against Coburg in Craigieburn – 24 hours before the AFL side starts its season against the Giants.
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Gleeson has failed to play a match since injuring his ankle in last year's JLT Community Series, while Redman fractured his ankle at training in late November.
