McGovern faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury while Jenkins, who suffered a fractured rib against Hawthorn, is now a week-to-week proposition and has been ruled out against Essendon. Thompson will have to build match fitness in the SANFL after he was a late scratching last week. First-year forward Davis has had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot and has turned his focus to returning next season. Second-year defender Tom Doedee is set to play in the SANFL this weekend after recovering from a knee injury. - Lee Gaskin

Gardiner copped a heavy cork against the Saints and hasn't done much training yet. Christensen is the closest to a return and is hopeful of being available for round five, although the medical staff may be keen to hold him back another week. Mathieson's ankle has progressed well and he should be back in NEAFL calculations in the next fortnight. - Michael Whiting

Carlton expects Jacob Weitering (head) and Simon White (back) to be fit for Saturday night’s game against the Suns at Etihad Stadium. Weitering and White were injured in the Blues’ hard-fought win over Essendon. Charlie Curnow, a late withdrawal against the Bombers last Sunday because of a quad injury, is also expected to be available for selection. Rookie forward Lebois hurt his left quad at training last week and is expected to miss a month. - Howard Kotton

De Goey's broken knuckle has healed and, pending a surgeon's examination, will be free to play in the VFL as he serves a club-imposed three-match suspension for initially lying about how he sustained the injury. Scharenberg sat out the second half of the VFL practice match at the weekend after copping a knock to the head. Langdon has received a series of injections in his knee and the club hopes he will start training again shortly. Sinclair is still eyeing a return in the second half of the year. - Ben Collins

Essendon looks more likely than not to have small forward Josh Green available after missing two games with a minor hamstring strain. The Bombers are generally pretty healthy, with Ben Howlett and David Myers set for one more week on the sidelines with their injuries. The club says Myers will be available in round five, but it seems most likely he will return via the VFL after finger surgery. Essendon had some sore and battered bodies out of its loss to Carlton on Sunday in the shocking conditions but says it had a "clean sheet" from the game in terms of genuine concerns. - Callum Twomey

Harley Bennell has had another setback with his troublesome calf. Hayden Ballantyne has progressed into strength work and is on target to return as scheduled following hamstring surgery. Luke Ryan pulled up well from his first game in about nine months following an ankle issue. - Travis King

Ainsworth was a match-eve scratching and should be fine to play this week. Swallow copped his cork late against the Hawks and should also be right to play the Blues. The lack of Suns on the injury list is something Rodney Eade hasn't seen in his two-plus years at the club. - Michael Whiting

Griffen and Setterfield will be in a moon boot for at least a fortnight before they start their rehab, while Coniglio is making slow progress from the same injury, and looks at least another month away. Some better news for GWS is that Deledio could be ready to step up his training shortly, and de Boer is likely to play in the NEAFL if he can get through training this week. - Adam Curley

O'Rourke, the No.2 draft pick in 2012, should return in the VFL for Box Hill on Saturday – pending a fitness test – and the midfielder may quickly come into senior contention. There were no new major injuries from the weekend, with Ryan Burton (back) and Paul Puopolo (hamstring) playing out the loss to the Gold Coast. – Marc McGowan

Experienced defender Vince had a minor procedure to fix a toenail that had to be removed during last week's game against Geelong. The Demons are hopeful the veteran will be available for the clash with the Dockers. Gawn's injury is clearly a major blow to the club's finals hopes and he will be difficult to replace. In better news, ex-Don Hibberd will play in the opening round of the VFL against Williamstown on Easter Monday after overcoming a lingering Achilles issue. - Ben Guthrie

Scott Thompson is available to strengthen the Roos' defence after missing a week on a striking charge. Most interest will centre on Simpkin and Daw, to see if they can get up for the Good Friday match. Daw suffered concussion in a training mishap on game eve and didn't travel to Hobart. Injury-cursed Wood has made a speedy recovery and is line for a surprise VFL return on Saturday with Werribee. - Marc McGowan

Hombsch is expected to start running this week, while Monfries could return for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL for their round three game against North Adelaide on April 22. Forward Aaron Young picked up a knock to his shoulder in the Showdown and will be monitored this week. Lobbe suffered a minor hamstring injury at training, but he could return as early as next week. - Lee Gaskin

The work Ben Griffiths is doing on the track would suggest he is ready to return from a concussion, with the Tigers' clash against the Brisbane Lions coming 17 days after it was suffered. The Tigers are also optimistic Nick Vlastuin (concussion and a broken nose) will be cleared to play with an eight-day break. Edwards has had two weeks shave off his maximum return date since joining the rehab group one week ago. - Nathan Schmook

Jack Steven and David Armitage will be assessed at training this week. Armitage wasn't far away from playing in last Sunday's win against the Brisbane Lions so he would be disappointed to miss out again. - Dinny Navaratnam

Kurt Tippett got through training on Tuesday but failed to head west to take on the Eagles with the rest of his teammates on Tuesday afternoon. Papley and Rohan are already in full training and probably could have played in the NEAFL this week if not for a club bye, while McVeigh and Heeney will join the main group this week, in the hope that they could be ready to play at some level in the next fortnight. The Swans could have all four back in the senior side by round six or seven if all goes to plan. In a good sign for Robinson, the midfielder has ditched his sling and was stationary kicking with teammates before training on Tuesday, as he recovers from shoulder surgery. - Adam Curley

Nic Naitanui's next month of rehabilitation will decide if he could return this season after the star ruckman was forced to pull back on his running workload due to knee soreness. In better news for the Eagles' big men, Scott Lycett and Drew Petrie's recovery times have shortened by about two weeks each. Small forward Willie Rioli has also had an extra week or so shaved off his comeback from hamstring tendon surgery. Tom Cole was stretching out in straight-line sprints on Monday in his bid to return via East Perth. - Travis King

The Dogs are confident Liam Picken will overcome concussion in time to face North Melbourne on Good Friday, but are less so on the fitness of Stewart Crameri. Draftee ruckman Tim English and second-year key defender Kieran Collins are both expected to play in Footscray's VFL season opener on Friday. - Ryan Davidson