Essendon could turn to veteran Dustin Fletcher in an attempt to stop Lance Franklin doing his regular demolition job on the Bombers when they host Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

In his former Hawthorn club colours Franklin has terrorised Essendon, kicking 50 goals in their last 10 meetings.

Bombers coach Mark Thompson said he was still working out the best way to curtail Sydney’s star-studded, four-pronged attack of Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Sam Reid and Adam Goodes.

Fletcher, 39, often plays as the spare man in defence, although that won’t be an option against the towering Swans’ forward line.

“We’re just going to try and do the right match-ups,” Thompson said.

“Dustin’s going to play on a tall, we’ve got three or four players down there who can play on talls.

“(Michael) Hurley or even Fletcher – why not?”

Thompson wouldn’t discount a temporary shift back to defence for key forward Jake Carlisle.

“We have to stop the ball getting in there or if it does make, we sure it does get there under pressure,” he said.

Ruckman Tom Bellchambers could make his first appearance of the season after finally overcoming an ankle problem while midfielder David Myers was also a chance depending on how the pair came through training.

Thompson said his team would have to play “20-30 per cent better” than they did in the tight win over Brisbane to stop Sydney.