VETERAN Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher is likely to miss Saturday night's match against Greater Western Sydney because of injury.

Bombers football manager Paul Hamilton told Essendon's website the AFL's oldest player had a minor complaint in his upper leg and probably needed a rest.

Hamilton said it was 'more than likely' that Fletcher would sit out the match.

The 37-year-old has played every game this season for a career total of 355.

He is one behind Bruce Doull and Paul Roos, who are equal-ninth on the league's all-time games list.

Fletcher was due to play against his old coach Kevin Sheedy for the first time.

Sheedy famously started Fletcher's senior football career by picking him during the 1993 premiership season when the lanky full-back was still at school.

"He has a small injury to his groin area and it is something that he has been carrying for a couple of weeks," Hamilton told the club's website.

"He has been playing with it, and usually he would be right to play but it got worse on the weekend so we definitely won’t be taking any risks with Fletch.

"He is more than likely to miss this week's game but we will give him the chance to fully recover so we will see how he is by the end of the week."