Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher has urged the ailing Bombers to lift for their "massive" AFL game against Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Bombers' season effectively goes on the line against the Lions after three successive losses, with a win vital to keep their finals hopes alive with four home and away rounds remaining.

They tumbled out of the eight after a 27-point loss to West Coast on Sunday at Subiaco Oval, and have a challenging run home, taking on unbeaten competition leaders St Kilda as well as erratic defending champions Hawthorn and Fremantle.

"It's a massive game," Fletcher said of the Lions.

"I suppose yesterday's game was a big one, too."

The dual premiership fullback said the Bombers were letting themselves down by failing to play out four quarters of football.

He said they needed to get back to the "exciting type of footy" they knew.

"At times during games we have looked like we could get the ball and go forward and go away with the game.

"But you just can't leave it until late. Games are that close these days.

"You have got to try to put four quarters together and we haven't put four quarters together for a while."

The veteran said another trip west to face the Dockers in round 21 held no fear for their side, citing their solid 35-point win over the Swans last month in Sydney.

"We had a good win against Sydney in Sydney and we obviously were pretty disappointing yesterday," he said.

"It gives the boys a chance in a couple of weeks to go back there and try and prove ourselves and play well interstate.

"It's up to us to lift and do that."

The Bombers are looking forward to the likely return of Alwyn Davey (knee) while Mark McVeigh (corked thigh) is also a strong chance to play with both training on Monday.

Skipper Matthew Lloyd, who has a badly bruised heel, has been all but ruled out.

"We might get a few blokes back through injury and we've got to come out fighting and play well at the MCG where we've done pretty well so far this year," Fletcher said.

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