ESSENDON coach James Hird says injured duo Cale Hooker and Heath Hocking will both return for the Bombers' round three clash against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.

Hooker (ankle) and Hocking (concussion) were left out of the Essendon's team to play Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Easter Saturday.

Sam Lonergan and Jake Carlisle have replaced the duo in the Bombers' line-up.

"Cale rolled his ankle in the last quarter [of Essendon's narrow win over North Melbourne in round one] and we probably could have pushed him a bit harder to play," Hird said at Windy Hill on Friday morning.

"But we just considered that we've got a good replacement in Jake Carlisle, and we want to make sure that we don't stir [Cale] up for the rest of the year.

"That was important."

Hocking was concussed after being struck in the head by the ball during the opening minute of the Bombers' victory over the Kangaroos.

He was subbed out of the game just prior to quarter-time.

"It was interesting with Heath … all the concussion tests that we did, he passed," Hird explained.

"He thought he was pretty good … he was at me all day yesterday to play. He was upbeat and ready to play.

"But the doctor was pretty concerned that it was a heavy knock.

"[He also had] a little bit of memory loss early in the week and we just went conservative on him.

"I think with concussion you've got to back the doctor's call, and that's what we've done … for his safety and the good of his wellbeing."

Essendon's loss of Hooker, who is one of the club's best key defenders, has been negated somewhat by Port Adelaide ruling out emerging key forward John Butcher due to a hamstring strain.

Butcher booted four goals when the Power came within seven points of upsetting the Bombers in round 23 last year.

He has been replaced in Port's team by another much-improved big man, Jackson Trengove, who has recovered from a finger injury.

Hird acknowledged that Butcher's absence is a "bit of a bonus for us", but he added that he was very impressed with the way the Power beat St Kilda last Sunday.

"The amount of ball they got into their forward line, and the way they did so well around the contested situation, they gave their forwards a really good chance.

"So they're still dangerous in the forward line, but it's in the middle of the ground where we need to take care of the game."