MELBOURNE is confident first-year midfielder Angus Brayshaw will play against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday.

Brayshaw trained strongly with the team at Casey Fields on Thursday and did not display any ill effects from the neck injury he sustained against West Coast in Darwin last Saturday night.

The 19-year-old was put through a searching fitness test by development coach Brad Miller, before joining in full ground drills.

"From a medical point of view, he's been cleared (to play)," coach Paul Roos said before the training session.

Watson to take some time off after shoulder surgery

"It's just whether he gets through training today. We certainly expect him to play."

Heritier Lumumba also got through training and is certain to line up against the Bombers after missing the clash with the Eagles due to a foot complaint. 

The Demons are also weighing up whether to bring Aaron vandenBerg straight back into the senior team. 

The rookie success story is ready to resume playing after overcoming a hamstring strain he suffered against Collingwood in round 10. 

"Today's about having a look at him and seeing how he trains. He's done a fair bit of running," Roos said.

"Clearly early in the season he was an important player for us, but we want to make sure we set him up for the rest of the season as well."

The heat has been well and truly on the Bombers after they were humiliated to the tune of 110 points by St Kilda last Sunday.

To make matters worse for the embattled club, skipper Jobe Watson has been ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury. 

However, Roos said the pressure was just as high on his own team after a disappointing fade-out late in the game against West Coast. 

"We lost by 55 points ourselves. We need to respond from our performance from last week," Roos said. 

"I don't know whether their backs are closer to the wall than ours." 

Meanwhile, the Demons will elevate midfielder James Harmes off the rookie list in place of Jack Trengove who has already been ruled out for the rest of the season after foot surgery. 

Roos said Harmes, who has made significant progress while playing for the Casey Scorpions in the VFL this season, would be in the selection mix against Essendon.