Melbourne coach Dean Bailey says the return from injury of Liam Jurrah and Colin Sylvia will add much-needed excitement and potency to the Demons' attack.

Jurrah showed some freakish talent in kicking 20 goals in the first nine games of his AFL career last season, but a pre-season shoulder injury means he has not played an AFL game this year.

But the 21-year-old will make his return against Essendon at the MCG on Sunday, barring any late setbacks at training.

Sylvia has missed the past three matches with a foot injury.

"It will certainly give our forward line a different look," Bailey said.

"With Col and Liam up there, the guys haven't played a lot of footy together for the whole year, this is LJ's first game.

"The forward line's been a pretty tough place ... it's been very unsettled for the majority of the year.

"With LJ and Col back in the team, you'd like to think they're a chance to kick some goals for us.

"When you're kicking goals that gives us the greatest lift, so the challenge is going to be in front of them on Sunday."

Bailey acknowledged a lack of scoring power had been the Demons' big problem in recent matches.

They have not kicked more than 11 goals in any match in the past five rounds and have not won a match in that time, although they drew with Collingwood in round 12.

Bailey said the ball movement from the midfield had not been great, but extra attacking targets would help.

"Having two players in the forward line who are genuine goal kickers and marking players, they're dangerous," he said.

"It gives us a different look, but it gives us a more attacking look, which is what we're after."

Bailey was also looking forward to having Jurrah play with emerging key forward Jack Watts, the 2008 No.1 draft pick, something that has only happened twice previously.

"Hopefully the remaining games of the year they can play a lot of footy together."

The Demons are expecting a fired-up Essendon, after the Bombers' dismal 84-point loss to Adelaide last weekend.

But Bailey said Melbourne had equal cause to lift their intensity, given their recent form.

"We need to hunt them as much as everyone seems to think they're going to do to us, we need to be on the front foot on Sunday," he said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP