ESSENDON captain Matthew Lloyd is a definite starter in the round one clash against North Melbourne on Monday according to coach Matthew Knights.

Adam McPhee is also a starter but Andrew Welsh will miss due to a hamstring injury.

Knights said Lloyd's training during the past two or three weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury had been first class.

“The great thing about him is he’s going into a new frontier as captain, he’s got a lot more younger players in the team with him and he’s going to enjoy that challenge," he said.

Knights said strong pre-season campaigns from young players such as Sam Lonergan, Bachar Houli, Jay Nash and Courtenay Dempsey would also pose welcome selection dilemmas. Overall, the Bombers would have a new look in 2008.

“We’re going to have seven or eight players in the team who didn’t consistently play last year, be that through injury or form or selection, so we will look a bit different," Knights said.

“We are going to attack the game differently, but in saying that, the reality is our senior players are still going to hold the key for this team because they’re the guys that are going to be consistent on a weekly basis.”

Knights said he was excited about what is “a new era and a new dawn” for the football club.

“I think it’s the great unknown for all of us. Supporters, members, coaches, players," he said.

"We understand that our young team won’t be intimidated. They’re going to go out and play hard and play aggressive and take the game on. I’m going to do things my own way and I’ve got my own views on football.”

The former Bendigo Bombers mentor said he didn't have any butterflies leading up to round one, as yet.

 “I think it’s important for me to stay calm and relaxed and I think that rubs off on the players,” Knights said.

"I’m really a stickler for making sure I’m giving all my players that one-on-one attention that they deserve and that’s the biggest challenge.”