(Image: Getty)
Star Essendon defender Michael Hurley will not play against Fremantle this week as he continues to recover from a calf injury.
Hurley sat out the Bombers’ 33-point win over Gold Coast last round after hurting himself against Adelaide the previous week.
The 27-year-old had hoped to be right to take on the Dockers, but coach John Worsfold has decided to err on the side of caution.
“In all likelihood he will be right beyond next week,” Worsfold said of Hurley.
If the Bombers beat the Dockers, they will all but guarantee themselves a spot in this year’s finals series.
Worsfold held out hope that gun forward Orazio Fantasia (hamstring) would also be fit for the finals if Essendon qualified.
"The break in between the finals will help our injured guys especially ‘Raz’ and ‘Hurls’ if we were to make it,” Worsfold said.
"Fantasia is more than an outside chance to play first week of finals.
"Everything he is doing at the moment is to be ready for the first week of finals."