Bombers forward Michael Hurley.
ESSENDON has joined a number of clubs in kick-starting the preparations of key players for round one, with forward Michael Hurley, skipper Jobe Watson and veteran Dustin Fletcher all set for their first NAB Cup hitout.
The Bombers are confident tomorrow night's game against St Kilda in Wangaratta is the right time for Hurley (pictured) to begin his 2012 campaign after a pre-season interrupted by a hamstring complaint.
The 21-year-old will be part of the 27-man squad, along with Watson and Fletcher, who both had solid pre-seasons but were held back from the club's interstate trip to Patersons Stadium two weeks ago.
''Michael has been back in full training for close to four weeks,'' Bombers football manager Paul Hamilton said. ''He was training well when we went over to Perth, but we certainly weren't going to rush him.
''His progress has been really good, so the next step for him now is to play some football. But he won't play a full game, we'll watch his time carefully.''
Rising Star winner Dyson Heppell and midfielder Brent Stanton also come back into a squad that lost its first two NAB Cup games against West Coast and Fremantle by a combined 57 points.
Hamilton said the club would wait to see how Hurley pulled up from the match before deciding whether he plays against Sydney at Etihad Stadium next Friday night.
It could be a heavy track at Wangaratta tomorrow, with the city receiving more than 180 millimetres of rain this week. Bombers officials inspected the surface earlier this week and Hamilton doubted the wet conditions would force any late changes.
The Saints have also named a strong line-up, with Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna ready to go after missing the first round. Lenny Hayes will also continue his comeback from a knee reconstruction.
Collingwood has already lost two players from its best 22 - Andrew Krakouer and Brent Macaffer - to serious knee injuries in the past two weeks, but will be buoyed by the return of star centre half-back Ben Reid for tomorrow night's NAB game against Melbourne.
The All-Australian has been named in the Pies' squad for the match at Etihad Stadium, completing a two-month rehabilitation from a shoulder injury suffered in a freak accident while holidaying in Thailand.
The Pies have been pleased with Reid's progress and are confident the lay-off will not have a major impact on his season. Reid's mishap was one of several the Pies have endured to key players since last year's grand final, but the run of misfortune has not deterred coach Nathan Buckley from introducing five premiership stars into a team that won both of its games in week one of the NAB Cup.
Skipper Nick Maxwell, All-Australians Scott Pendlebury and Travis Cloke, as well as 2010 premiership defender Sharrod Wellingham will all join Reid, while Marty Clarke has also been named for his first game since returning from Ireland.
Former Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney is another top midfielder ready to fire his first shot in the NAB Cup, as is teammate Shaun Higgins, while full-back Brian Lake will play at least a half when the Western Bulldogs take on Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Blues skipper Chris Judd will wait one more week before testing his injured shoulder, while Jarrad Waite, Michael Jamison, Andrew Walker, Mitch Robinson and Robbie Warnock will also miss the Bulldogs game.
Jack Grimes joins co-captain Jack Trengove (leg soreness) on the injured list after suffering a shoulder injury at training this week, and Melbourne has also decided to rest Mitch Clark, Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers for the game against Collingwood.
Greater Western Sydney co-captain Luke Power will miss tomorrow's game against Hawthorn due to a hamstring injury. He is likely to sit out the remainder of the NAB Cup, although the club is hopeful he will be ready for round one.
The Hawks have opted to follow Geelong's lead and will leave a host of big names, including Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell and Cyril Rioli, at home when a 29-man squad heads to Tasmania for the clash against the Giants at Aurora Stadium.
Richmond has decided to rest Trent Cotchin for its match against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on Sunday, while Sydney co-captain Adam Goodes will miss the Swans game against North Melbourne after being suspended for rough conduct.