MELBOURNE quartet Bernie Vince, Jeremy Howe, Jay Kennedy-Harris and Dean Kent could all play for Casey against Williamstown in a VFL practice match at Casey Fields this Saturday in preparation for the home and away season.

Vince and Howe did not play in the NAB Challenge series, after suffering hamstring injuries in the pre-season. Kennedy-Harris and Kent missed Melbourne’s loss against Essendon at Etihad Stadium last Friday evening.

But manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said the club was hoping the four players would have a run this weekend.

“We will be seeking permission from the AFL for a number of players to play this week, based on interrupted pre-seasons or limited game time through the NAB Challenge period,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

Melbourne will not play a match this weekend, with most of its list set to have the weekend off, before it opens its 2015 season proper against the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG.

The Demons will host the Suns at 1.10pm on Easter Saturday, April 4.