Zaharakis completed his first full training session on Wednesday since suffering the injury at the end of January.
He wasn't picked in the Bombers' clash with Greater Western Sydney on Friday night, and is set to miss the club's VFL side's clash with Collingwood on Saturday.
Instead, he will continue his training and be ready to play in a practice game next Friday between the VFL Bombers and Bendigo Gold, the last possible competitive hit-out before Essendon's round-one clash with Adelaide.
"I think they've worked him really hard at training and given him big minutes of hard work, but just didn't want to risk him in a full game until he was right," Essendon football manager Danny Corcoran told AFL.com.au.
Zaharakis had a severe tendon injury in his quadriceps last year and missed 10 weeks. He returned at the back end of the year but appeared underdone, and Corcoran said the club had taken a cautious approach.
"He's such an important player for us. [Last year when he returned] he couldn't kick flat out, so we want him to kick flat out and to get ready for round one," he said.
As the season grows closer, Essendon enjoys a relatively injury-free list, with key forward Scott Gumbleton to play in the VFL practice game this weekend.
Hamstring soreness has limited third-year midfielder Alex Browne recently, with the 20-year-old last week confined to modified duties.
Browne had problems with his hamstring last pre-season but played in the opening round of the NAB Cup.
Follow AFL website reporter Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
