With just one AFL game under his belt in the past five months, Jamie Macmillan knows it's going to be a battle to hold his spot.

Lindsay Thomas, Michael Firrito, Luke McDonald, Todd Goldstein and Levi Greenwood are all set to return against the Bombers and with that, there's bound to be more than a few hard luck stories.

For Macmillan, Wednesday's match committee meeting looms as a defining moment.

"I'm pretty realistic as to where I'm at. I'd absolutely love to play, but it's out of my control now," he told NMFC.com.au.

"Unfortunately five come in, five have to come out. There's going to be some hard conversations this week and if I'm one of them, that's life unfortunately.

"Whatever the coaches think is best and whatever's going to get us a win on the weekend. If that's me in the side, I'm more than happy to play. If they think some other guys are better prepared than me or in better form than me, I'll accept that."

Following a long spell on the sidelines with a broken fibula, Macmillan admits his preparation for September football hasn't been ideal.

But after playing close to 90 per cent game-time against the Demons, he's shown he can stand up in the heat of battle.

"I've got no doubt fitness is going to play a part in their (the coaches) minds. I feel like I'm pretty fit and ran out the game reasonably well on the weekend. It's obviously going to be a topic of conversation at match committee, but what can you do?"

"I've pulled up really well. I've pulled up better this week than I have the last two weeks."

Nevertheless, the step up from VFL level proved challenging.

"The first half was spent getting used to the game and blowing out a few cobwebs. It was about getting used to the pace, getting the right running patterns," Macmillan added.

"The biggest thing I found was just the speed the ball travels. In AFL, the kicks just seem to be that little bit flatter...you don't have as much time with the ball.

"I suppose it's just in the VFL you're training twice a week and the AFL is full-time, so everyone's that little bit fitter, that little stronger."

Macmillan knows he's better for the run after his first senior game since Round 3.

"I had a pretty simple mindset going in just to defend well. I had two or three focus points going into the game and I did them reasonably well for the majority game.

"I had some things I suppose like anyone, even when I'm going through a purple patch you still have things you need to work on."

With 27 players to fit into 22 spots, all eyes will be on selection on Thursday night and Macmillan isn't the only one fighting to keep his place. 

"Competition's very hot at the moment. Those five guys (Thomas, Firrito, McDonald, Goldstein, Greenwood), a lot of them have been in our top dozen or half-dozen players for the year, so they are all going to come back in and make the side better."