THE RETURN of star forward Joe Daniher headlines a strong Essendon team for its opening JLT Community Series clash against Carlton at Ikon Park on Thursday night.

It will be Daniher's first game since May due to osteitis pubis, with the Bombers set to use the fixture to hand a number of players the opportunity to build their match fitness.

Captain Dyson Heppell returns from a hamstring problem, Zach Merrett has been named despite an ankle injury, while Devon Smith will play after recovering from a biceps injury.

Star recruit Dylan Shiel is one of three new faces set to feature for Essendon, named for his first club appearance alongside ruckman Zac Clarke and rookie Tom Jok.

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Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps and midfielder Zac Fisher return for the Blues, having missed a practice match last Thursday against Hawthorn due to AFLX duty.

Top draft pick Sam Walsh will also get the chance to impress, with fellow recruits Mitch McGovern, Will Setterfield, Michael Gibbons and Nic Newman also named to play.

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Former skipper Marc Murphy has also been included in the squad, despite copping a knee injury during last week's practice match defeat to Hawthorn.

Both sides have named 26-man squads, having had the option of including between four and eight players on an extended bench throughout the JLT Community Series.

Carlton v Essendon at Ikon Park, Thursday at 6.40pm AEDT

CARLTON

B: K.Simpson 6, L.Plowman 20, P.Dow 2

HB: N.Newman 24, C.Polson 29, L.Jones 14

C: S.Petrevski-Seton 5, P.Cripps 9, Z.Fisher 25

HF: C.Curnow 30, M.Lobbe 27, A.Schumacher 19

F: W.Setterfield 43, M.McGovern 11, H.McKay 10

Foll: A.Phillips 34, M.Gibbons 40, E.Curnow 35

I/C: M.Murphy 3, J.Weitering 23, J.Garlett 21, S.Walsh 18, J.Silvagni 1, D.Cuningham 28, D.Thomas 39, L.O'Brien 4



Emerg: T.De Koning 12, L.Casboult 41, H.Goddard 45, M.Kennedy 7

Notable absentees: Sam Docherty, Alex Fasolo, Matthew Kreuzer, Caleb Marchbank, Darcy Lang, Jarrod Pickett, Tom Williamson, Liam Stocker

ESSENDON

B: P.Ambrose 29, M.Hartley 36, J.Long 34

HB: A.Francis 10, M.Hurley 18, A.Saad 42

C: D.Heppell 21, K.Langford 4, Z.Merrett 7

HF: D.Shiel 9, M.Brown 28, D.Zaharakis 11

F: J.Stringer 25, J.Daniher 6, A.McDonald-Tipungwuti 43

Foll: Z.Clarke 20, A.McGrath 1, D.Parish 3

I/C: C.McKenna 45, T.Jok 46, S.McKernan 44, J.Ridley 14, M.Guelfi 35, J.Laverde 15, D.Smith 5, M.Baguley 12

Emerg: J.Stewart 17, S.Draper 38, T.Mynott 39, D.Clarke 37

Notable absentees: Martin Gleeson, Cale Hooker, Tom Bellchambers, Orazio Fantasia, David Myers, Matt Dea