Essendon coach Matthew Knights says Patrick Ryder (pictured) will continue to pinch-hit as a forward

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ESSENDON is set to reveal its new-look forward line in its NAB Cup opener against West Coast on February 12.

Since the end of last season, the Bombers have had to adjust to the absence of Matthew Lloyd (retired), Scott Lucas (retired), Andrew Lovett (traded) and Adam McPhee, who left to return to Fremantle.

Coach Matthew Knights said he would use the pre-season competition to develop his forward line rather than experiment with it.

"We'd like to start to settle it down sooner rather than later," he said from Windy Hill on Monday morning.

"We've got an intra-club practice match in Shepparton so we'd like to jell our forwards together. Then at Subiaco you'd probably see a forward line structure that is pretty close to what we want to go with for the season, depending on if a few guys are unavailable.

"We've got to get them playing together because the reality is you can't turn it on like a switch. The great forward lines have played together for a few years now.

"If you have a look at the mechanics of the Geelong forward line and the St Kilda forward line, they really work cohesively and work for each other. That is probably going to take a little bit of time with us. The sooner we can get it going the better."

Former Hawk Mark Williams is likely to front the new attack while big things are expected of key forward Scott Gumbleton, who has recovered from his back injuries.

Knights said he would also continue to use ruckmen Patrick Ryder and David Hille in front of goal.

"We are going to have to get goals out of all of those big boys and we are looking to share the load," he said.

"I'm not actually sure which one will pop up and be our leading goalkicker but I'm sure one or two of them will come through and kick some goals for our club."

Hille won't play against the Eagles as he continues his rehabilitation of a knee reconstruction, but Knights said he was hoping to have him back for the start of the season proper.

"We've got to manage loads and he is progressing great," he said.

"He is going really strong and all tracks lead to round one in a perfect world. Let's hope [there are] no more interruptions between now and then so the big fella can step out in round one."

However, Jason Laycock is making a slower than expected return from the foot injury that sidelined him for the entire 2009 season.

The 25-year-old has been beset with calf and quad injuries over summer.

"Jason is going through some hurdles at the moment where it is not exactly working for him as well as you'd like," Knights said.

"He is certainly not having a clear path but he is progressing. He is slowly getting his condition base up and his endurance base up and it's going to be a wait and see with Jason and we'll see how he comes up."