ESSENDON captain Jobe Watson concedes the whole club is feeling a "fair degree" of anxiety ahead of the March 31 deadline set by the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal for a verdict.
The Bombers have up to 18 players on their list facing possible suspensions arising from the club's 2012 supplements program, casting doubt over the make-up of the club's round one line-up.
Watson was the centre of interest at AFL captains’ day on Wednesday and spoke about how nervous the players are in the lead up to discovering their fate next Tuesday.
"There's a date set, but whether that’s a relief or not (I don’t know)" Watson said.
"It does put something in the calendar for you but I'd say there's … a fair degree of anxiety.
"It affects the entire football club. Whether or not you've been there for 15 minutes or the entire time, I think everyone feels that there's a decision coming.
"And it's going to impact the football club."
On Tuesday, a former Essendon player lodged paperwork with the Victorian Supreme Court to begin legal action against Essendon and the AFL.
The player, revealed on Wednesday morning as Hal Hunter, had requested his identity be suppressed during the trial.
The legal action potentially means the saga could drag on past the March 31, but Watson said that is not something he had contemplated.
"I don't know. It's not something I've really thought about how long it's going to extend," he said.
"We're focusing on what we can control and at the moment we can't control anything. We just wait."
Watson also revealed the Bombers players plan to hear the verdict together next Tuesday, but would not be drawn on specifics.
If suspensions are handed down on March 31, Essendon faces the prospect of having to field some of the top-up players who featured throughout the club's NAB Challenge campaign, for its round one clash against the Sydney Swans on April 4.
That would be in addition to the players recruited to the club after 2012 and also include David Zaharakis, Nick O'Brien, Jackson Merrett, Elliott Kavanagh and Lauchlan Dalgleish who did not take part in the supplement program.
On the other hand, should the verdict fall in the Bombers' favour, the players will head into the opening round without logging any minutes in official practice matches.
Swans captain Jarrad McVeigh said his club was preparing for the best the Dons had to offer.
"We're preparing as well as we can and we'll prepare for their best team," McVeigh said.
"Whatever happens with them happens and we can't control that..
"The coaches will know all the players (that will) potentially play, but we'll find out on Tuesday."
Watson said the round one clash between the two teams could prove a point around the need for match practice ahead of the home and away season.
"It will be an interesting test case, because I'm sure, if we come out and play well, there'll be a lot of players advocating the idea for a shorter pre-season," Watson said.
"We've trained really hard. We've prepared to play in round one and we're looking forward to that opportunity.
"The players have been wanting to focus on preparing to play and represent the jumper and our fans.
"I feel confident the list is in good physical shape to play AFL football."
