Worsfold stalking Cats

FACING a do-or-die clash against Geelong, Essendon coach John Worsfold says his team is “definitely improving” and capable of causing an upset.

But the Bombers may have to do it without key forward Joe Daniher, who has to prove his fitness before selection.

Following a dismal first half against Hawthorn in Round 14 where Essendon took a 36point deficit into the main break, Worsfold said his Bombers had turned a corner.

They outpointed the Eagles in clearances and inside-50s on Tuesday night and had as many chances as their opponents but let the game slip through poor finishing.

Essendon sits a game and a half outside the eight but the coach said its form was improving.

“The second half against the Hawks and most of the game against West Coast . . . we matched them or beat them in most facets of the game other than the scoreboard,” he said.

“To match up against West Coast like that shows big improvement in the way we want to play and we are aiming to improve that against the Cats. No better way to test where you are at than playing really good teams and testing yourself to improve, so we see this as a great opportunity and a really exciting one.”

Daniher kicked 0.3 against West Coast but provided a target and was a spark in that comeback against Hawthorn, when he kicked 3.3.

Those two matches marked his return from injury and Worsfold said the forward was a “good chance” to play but would be assessed given the Bombers will play the Cats on

Sunday off a five-day break.

“We will assess him posttraining and make a call this afternoon about his load going forward,” he said on Friday.

Skipper Dyson Heppell is likely to play after he returned from injury against the Eagles but Andrew McGrath is out with a season-ending syndesmosis injury.

The Cats will go in as warm favourites after a five-game winning streak and Worsfold said there was plenty to be wary of for his team.

“They are just a very mature, experienced team that has been together for a long time and they have threats all over the ground," he said.

“( Tom Hawkins) is in awesome form. Hopefully we can show some of our great young talent and play the footy we want to play and see how it stacks up against maybe the premiership favourites.”