Exciting Geelong midfielder Nathan Djerrkura is set to make his senior AFL debut in Sunday's clash with in-form Essendon.

After being drafted by the Cats from Darwin club Wanderers in 2006, the 20-year-old has regularly been troubled by quad injuries.

But he has looked impressive playing with Geelong's VFL side in the last few weeks, prompting inclusion in an expanded 25-man squad for Sunday's clash with the in-form Bombers.

"We would love to give Nathan the opportunity to play," Geelong coach Mark Thompson said on Thursday.

"The last three weeks in the VFL he's performed really well and looks like a league player.

"This is probably his great opportunity to play."

Djerrkura's father is Gatjil Djerrkura, the former chairman of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

Sunday's match at Etihad Stadium will be the first between the two clubs since Essendon backed out of a trade last year that would have sent mercurial utility Andrew Lovett to Skilled Stadium.

Lovett has since overcome his disciplinary issues and is playing career-best football.

"We were interested in him," said Thompson.

"We interviewed Andrew and I think he was quite prepared to come.

"A trade was almost done but Essendon pulled out at the last minute.

"In the end we lost (midfielder Brent) Prismall for almost nothing and they kept Lovett who's playing fantastic football ... so they're the big winners out of that deal."

Prismall is in line for an imminent Essendon debut after recovering from a knee reconstruction.

The Cats welcomed back experienced defender Darren Milburn (ankle) and forward Shannon Byrnes (hamstring) after they successfully completed training on Thursday.

Cameron Mooney has returned from suspension and Kane Tenace was also included in the squad of 25. But star forward Paul Chapman will miss up to two games after dislocating a finger in last Friday's narrow win over the Western Bulldogs.

Mathew Stokes will miss the game through suspension.

Despite having won a remarkable 51 of their last 54 matches, Thompson insisted the Cats would not take fourth-placed Essendon lightly.

"You're cautious because they're inside the eight, they've won some games of footy and they're a really quick and skilful team," said the Geelong coach.

"We'd have to play a lot better than we did last week and we're looking forward to playing another quality team."

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