ESSENDON will need to continue to tinker with a make-shift forward line with Jake Stringer set to sit out at least another week with his leg injury.

The former Western Bulldog, who was the Bombers' leading goalkicker last year, missed last week's loss to West Coast and is not ready to return against Greater Western Sydney this Thursday.

Coach John Worsfold said the 25-year-old, who has kicked 18 goals this year, had not yet fully recovered after suffering the bone bruising against Hawthorn in round 13.

"[He's] unlikely for this week and it's a bit of an unknown injury how it's going to progress. If it's not this week then hopefully next week," Worsfold said on Monday.

"They know what's happened, it's just the soreness and how quickly that soreness gets out and to where he can play a full game of footy."

Our supporters, I can understand they can get frustrated, but I know what they want - John Worsfold

The Bombers are already without spearhead Joe Daniher (groin) and goalkicking midfielder Devon Smith (knee), with Orazio Fantasia, Shaun McKernan and Mitch Brown other Essendon goalkickers to have missed chunks of the year through injury.

Fantasia, who is battling soreness, was not training with the main group on Monday.

Youngster Matt Guelfi has passed his concussion test after crashing into the fence last week, an action that has seen West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern suspended for a week by the Match Review Officer, and is hoping to be available against the Giants.

He trained on Monday but was not taking part in contested drills.

The Bombers are placed one win outside of the top eight with nine games remaining in the home and away season, meaning this week's clash with the Giants looms as an important one in the context of their finals hopes.

They have beaten only two of the competition's current top-eight teams, and averaged just 57 points in losses to contenders Collingwood, Geelong, the Giants, Richmond and Eagles.

Worsfold said the Bombers were not driven by performing better against the top team after their failures in that area this year.  

"We want to prove to ourselves that we're continually improving and working on the style of footy we want to play and we've got to commit to that," he said.

Although he was reluctant to put a timeframe on when he expects the Bombers to deliver consistent showings, Worsfold, who is into his fourth season in charge of the club, said steps had been taken this year.

"Our supporters, I can understand they can get frustrated, but I know what they want. And if it's the same thing that we want, we've all got to stay committed to what we're working on and we'll get there fairly quickly," he said.