Bailey Smith looks set to return to the line-up ahead of a crunch clash with Essendon, recovering from the flu over the past week.

The 22-year-old will need to be monitored at training before being declared a certain starter for Friday night.

“Bailey Smith started to come down with some flu symptoms immediately following our round 17 game against the Pies,” Head of Sports Medicine, Chris Bell said.

“He had a really quiet week last week whilst he recovered, but in some good news he has improved and is re-energised.

“He will be monitored though main training this week, but I am expecting him to return to availability.”

Sam Darcy suffered a nasty cork to his quad during the two-point loss to Sydney and will miss multiple games due to a bleed in his thigh.

“Sam Darcy has unfortunately continued to suffer some bad luck,” Bell said.

“In a marking contest at the end of the first quarter, he suffered a big blow to the outside part of his quad thigh muscle.

“As part of this injury you not only damage the muscle tissue but also break the blood vessels that carry blood around your thigh.

“From this significant corkie, Sam has suffered extensive bleeding and swelling into his thigh and lower leg.

“We will manage Sam conservatively but do expect him to miss the next few games of footy.”

James O’Donnell and Lachie McNeil both suffered concussion in the Thursday night defeat and will miss the upcoming fixture against the Bombers.

“Lachie McNeil received some heavy contact off the ball in the first quarter,” Bell said.

“When he was assessed at the time, he was winded from the heavy hit.

“He completed the game without any obvious concerns, but then post-game reported that he started to suffer from some subtle signs that can be related to concussion.”

“After clinical assessment, the doctors confirmed that McNeil had suffered some delayed signs of concussion.”

Mitch Hannan also looks set to return from a calf complaint, providing he completes main training on Wednesday.

Injury List

Bailey Smith (illness) – test

Mitch Hannan (calf) – test

Lachie McNeil (concussion) – 1-2 weeks

James O’Donnell (concussion) – 1-2 weeks

Jason Johannisen (hamstring) – 1-2 weeks

Liam Jones (forearm) – 3-5 weeks

Sam Darcy (quad) – 3-5 weeks

Tim O’Brien (hamstring) – 4-6 weeks

Hayden Crozier (hamstring) – 4-6 weeks

Dom Bedendo (groin) – indefinite

Roarke Smith (foot) - indefinite