After two massive games against Carlton and Collingwood, Essendon coach James Hird insists the Bombers can keep up their intensity against lowly Brisbane.

The Bombers defeated flag favourites Carlton and suffered an unlucky one-point loss to the Magpies four days later and believe that following a 10-day rest, they will remain on the pace.

Essendon coach James Hird said Saturday’s clash against the Lions was “a huge game for us in terms of where we want to go.”

“This will not be a letdown and our boys, in front of our home crowd at Etihad Stadium, are keen for a big performance,” Hird said on Friday.

“Playing two games in four days is tough on everyone and the boys have come out of it really well so we haven’t trained them too hard this week but given them enough load that hopefully come tomorrow afternoon against Brisbane, we’ll perform well.”

Despite games against more traditional foes in the past two rounds, Hird said the Brisbane match would produce the same intensity.

“You talk about rivals, Brisbane are the last one we played in a grand final and they beat us pretty convincingly in that game and they’ve really played really well against us in the last three or four years,” he said.

“Brisbane are a very good team around the ball. Simon Black, (Jed) Adcock, (Daniel) Rich, (Tom) Rockliff’s playing a really interesting role in the midfield and up forward.”

Nathan Lovett-Murray and Courtenay Dempsey have both returned from hamstring injuries but forward Michael Hurley is still battling a similar problem.

Hird hinted that the 21-year-old may also be rested in the following week’s match against West Coast, despite being virtually back to full training but said the recovery of Lovett-Murray and Dempsey was a good sign.

Despite only suffering the one loss this season, and that by one point, Hird said results could be deceptive.

“It’s very dangerous to look at results entirely; you’ve got to look at the way you’re playing,” he said.

“If you look back three weeks ago we were only lucky to beat Gold Coast, and Port Adelaide we only won by a little bit. Against Carlton we played very well.

“We’re hoping our form is getting better as the year goes on, but after 10 days of not playing, we have to start playing footy again.”