St Kilda dropped veterans Justin Peckett and Andrew Thompson for Friday night's key AFL match against Essendon at Telstra Dome.

Between them, Peckett and Thompson had missed only one game so far this season when Thompson had a shoulder injury.

The inclusions are also notable with Leigh Montagna in the senior side for the first time this season and Luke Penny finally recovered from his knee injury.

Penny has not played since round nine and has been in the senior team only three times this season.

It will be just the third time this year that the Saints have had Penny and fellow key defender Matt Maguire in the side at the same time.

The Saints have battled injury problems all season and coach Grant Thomas has been particularly frustrated with being unable to settle his defence.

Montagna was out for two months with a hamstring injury and returned to the VFL in early May.

Essendon also made some important changes, with key players Dustin Fletcher and Dean Rioli and small forward Damian Cupido returning to the side.

Fletcher did not train on Thursday, apparently because of the `flu.

They came in for Mark Alvey, Sam Hunt and Ty Zantuck.

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