THERE is uncertainty over Darcy Parish's fitness ahead of round one after the Essendon midfielder had scans on Monday morning.
Just four days out from the Bombers' season opener against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, the midfielder was spotted at the AAMI Park scanning clinic.
He didn't take part in the club's main training session last Friday, which included match simulation drills featuring the majority of Essendon's list before they had the weekend off.
A club spokesperson told AFL.com.au that the 20-year-old was sent for precautionary scans and that the Bombers were hopeful he will be available to meet the Crows.
Parish played in both of Essendon's JLT Community Series games, including against Geelong, when he had 20 disposals and kicked a goal in the Bombers' four-point win.
The former Geelong Falcon, who was pick No.5 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, is expected to be a key member of the Bombers' engine room this season.
He has played 40 games in his first two seasons at AFL level.
The Bombers have had some bad news on the injury front in recent weeks, with exciting forward Orazio Fantasia set to miss at least round one after minor knee surgery and defender Martin Gleeson out for up to four months with an ankle injury sustained against the Cats in Colac.
Essendon will be hoping to turn around its recent record against last year's Grand Finalists on Friday night, having lost its past four games to Adelaide by an average margin of 76 points.