DYNAMIC Essendon duo Devon Smith and Orazio Fantasia are expected to be available for the big clash with top-of-the-table Geelong at the MCG on Sunday, with the Bombers set to give both players every opportunity to prove their fitness.

Reigning club champion Smith has a chronic knee issue that flared again following the narrow loss to Collingwood on Anzac Day, while dangerous forward/midfielder Fantasia missed the clash after being a late withdrawal with illness. 

A dejected Devon Smith leaves the field on Anzac Day with his knee wrapped in ice. Picture: AFL Photos

Bombers coach John Worsfold was optimistic that, given a 10-day break, he would have both players at his disposal against the Cats' impressive running brigade in the annual Country Game.

"They're coming along well and we're hopeful that they'll both be available. We'll find out if they get through training today, but that's not necessarily the final decision either. We may be able to wait and see how they are later as well," Worsfold told reporters before training on Thursday.

"(Smith) may be fit today and we're all comfortable. It's a bit of an unknown with him because it's a chronic knee. It's not like one specific little thing that's the issue. He's a bit harder to read. He could get through today and feel great. If not we'll have to make a decision whether we want to name him or give him a little bit more time."

Smith trained strongly on Thursday but his selection will depend on how he recovers from the session. Meanwhile, Fantasia appears a certain starter after showing no signs of the ailment that struck him down.

The Dons will need to replace key forward Mitch Brown, who sustained a fractured wrist on Anzac Day, and Worsfold said the flexible Aaron Francis was "certainly" an option for promotion, along with a second ruckman such as the experienced Zac Clarke or the uncapped Sam Draper.

A sore Aaron Francis limps to the bench during the Dons' R3 clash with Melbourne. Picture: AFL Photos

Another possibility, Worsfold said, was to go with a smaller forward set-up.

Usual defender Francis, who was dropped after three rounds to make way for gun big man Cale Hooker, impressed when sent forward in the second half in the VFL at the weekend and appears the most likely choice. He trained with the Bombers' forwards on Thursday.

Essendon has accounted for Geelong in their past two meetings – both at the MCG over the past two seasons – but Worsfold insisted those results had only "subtle relevance" to this contest.

"We're certainly not sitting here thinking, 'Let's just replicate exactly what happened last year.' We're looking at what we're doing this year, we've made some changes, Geelong have made some changes, so it's two teams going differently at it," he said.

After a poor start to the season, the 3-3 Bombers have become one of the form teams of the competition. However, Worsfold dismissed any suggestion his team needed a big scalp to validate their efforts.

"We've beaten the top team this year already. I think Brisbane were on top when we played them (in round four)," he said. (The Lions were actually second to Geelong on percentage.)

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"They might be on top again at the end of the year. We beat Melbourne, who were rated as second premiership favourites, so we're going all right.

"We don't really get caught up in that. I'm making a joke of it because we just want to play our best footy every week, regardless.

"We need to win 14 games to be almost guaranteed of playing in the finals, so I don't care who they come against. I'd like to win more than that."

As for who would be assigned the task of stopping Geelong veteran Gary Ablett, who has been in brilliant form in attack, Worsfold nominated Conor McKenna, Adam Saad, Mason Redman and Andrew McGrath as the chief candidates. Asked whether the Dons would try to make Ablett more accountable on an attacking opponent, the coach said it would be a consideration.

"You always have that debate. Everyone knows how to get him (but) not many have ever been able to do it," Worsfold said.

"Whichever way we go we'll be confident we'll get a match-up that will compete really hard and have an absolute crack at playing their role for us."