Essendon coach James Hird says forgotten forward Mark Williams is poised to play his first game for the club in 12 months.

Hird said that, having overcome injury and form issues, he is at last ready to challenge for a spot.

"I've said all along that Mark is very close to selection," Hird said.

Williams - Hawthorn's leading goalkicker in 2005-06 - was recruited by Essendon at the end of 2009 to help fill the void left by the retirement of Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas.

He struggled with form and fitness last season, playing just four games before spending the last six rounds on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

Hird said the match against Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Sunday would be critical as the Bombers looked to build on their impressive pre-season form and round-one thumping of the Western Bulldogs.

"That was the one we were all after, a win. It also gave the guys a little bit of confidence in what we've been doing over the pre-season - to get a win like that," said Hird.

"We're trying to build ourselves from 14th last year and work our way up the ladder and the only way you can do that is by winning games of football back-to-back and winning consistently.

"We've got a very tough game in Sydney this week and we'll need to be at our best to compete with a Sydney side that's very tough to beat.

"It's pretty easy to do it one week, whether they can do it two weeks in a row, we'll see.

"What we know about the Swans is they're a great contested football team, they defend really well and they've added a bit of pace on the outside so they transfer the ball well and move it quite well out of the half-back line.

"We know their contested style of game can really stop you scoring if you don't win the footy."

Essendon have struggled for wins on the road in recent years, but new coach Hird is at a loss to explain why travelling interstate should make a difference.

"We're not going to put a lot of focus into whether the game is here or in Sydney or Adelaide of wherever it is," he said.

"I think you get mesmerised by jumping on a plane for one hour and spending a night in a hotel.

"I'm not sure how that actually affects you playing football."

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