Essendon coach John Worsfold says the new-look Bombers deserve to be recognised as frontrunners for a return to the AFL finals.

While much of the pre-season hype has centred on other top-eight hopefuls, Worsfold believes the Bombers will be in a strong position to make their charge with the likes of Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell back from drug bans.

“(Finals) has to be realistic … we think we deserve as much recognition as one of the teams that want to challenge for the top eight as Collingwood, Richmond, Melbourne, Carlton or Fremantle,” Worsfold said on Tuesday.