The Etihad Stadium clash will feature the league's only two unbeaten teams after six rounds.
It is also a big week off the field for the Bombers as investigations continue into last year's controversial supplements program at the club.
On Monday, Essendon made public the findings of the Switkowski report, which found an alarming lack of governance over the supplements regime.
Hille, over to France
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority personnel will also speak to Essendon players this week as part of their investigation.
"It's a big week - it's very big," Thompson told Fox Footy on Monday night.
"Today's report is going to be in the news tomorrow, the day after (Wednesday) the players are being interviewed.
"So there's a lot going on at Essendon."
Thompson said it was perhaps inevitable that Essendon had struggled early in Saturday's match against Greater Western Sydney.
The Bombers were well down on their otherwise strong form this season in the second-half before rallying for the win.
Thompson noted that the week before, the Bombers had beaten Collingwood in the Anzac Day blockbuster.
"The players just went `phoof'," Thompson said of the poor start against the Giants.
"It (last week) was a bad news week with everything that went on ... you can understand, on reflection, why they played like they did early in the game.
"It's going to be the same this week."
