The Bombers sit in the top four, and face a Suns side which has shrugged off the easybeats tag.
Three wins in their past five matches - and the losses highly competitive outings against Hawthorn and Geelong - suggest the competition's toddlers are growing up quickly.
Hird has added a further layer of anticipation, raising the prospect of the two Brownlow Medallists and this year's two favourites for the award playing on each other at Etihad Stadium.
"I might ring (Suns coach) Guy McKenna and see if we can put Jobe on Ablett, and let the public have a feast on that," Hird said on Friday.
"We'll wait and see. Certainly it's got to be team defence against someone like Gary. He's such a good player that one player doesn't beat him.
"I've rarely seen him beaten the last three years so it's about team defence, and knowing when he's near the ball he's probably going to get it.
"This year he seems to be at a higher level than he has been for the last couple. Jobe's right up there too. He's had an outstanding year."
While the Suns are upwardly mobile, Hird believes they are at a similar point to his Bombers - on the way to becoming a force but still a work-in-progress.
"They're certainly getting towards that," Hird said.
"There are still three or four teams who are the outstanding teams in the competition, and we're all trying to catch those teams.
"The Suns are similar to us. We're trying to get better, trying to be a really good team, but we're not there yet and neither are they. But we're all trying to get better."
Hird refused to buy into criticism by ex-Bombers player Mark McVeigh and retired club great Tim Watson of the ongoing ASADA investigation into the club's 2012 supplement use.
Both have this week admitted concerns with the scare tactics and lines of questioning used.
"Let ASADA go through their investigation, and (I'll) comment at the end of it.
"If we can get through the facts ... and allow them to present their findings and deal with facts rather than speculation, that would be appreciated."
Essendon have lost veteran defender Dustin Fletcher with a groin injury, with Tayte Pears to get his chance in defence.
Gold Coast have made one forced change - Charlie Dixon out with an ankle injury and ruckman Daniel Gorringe recalled.
