Essendon and St Kilda have significantly bolstered their teams for Saturday night’s AFL pre-season match in Wangaratta.

Captain Jobe Watson, veteran defender Dustin Fletcher and key position player Michael Hurley will return for the second-round NAB Cup match, which has drawn a capacity crowd of more than 10,000 fans.

The Saints have included star midfielders Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo in their squad.

Collingwood have recalled captain Nick Maxwell, Scott Pendlebury, Ben Reid, Sharrod Wellingham and Travis Cloke for Saturday night’s match against Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

Irishman Marty Clarke will also have his first game for the Magpies since the middle of the 2009 season.

The Demons will be without co-captains Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove through injury, but have included Sam Blease.