Essendon is gearing up for a large-scale invasion of Adelaide, with coach Kevin Sheedy imploring Bomber fans to attend Saturday night's AFL semi-final against Port Adelaide.

Sheedy has put out an SOS to former Essendon players with South Australian ties to attend the game and wants as many as 15,000 Essendon fans at the game to keep the pressure on Port.

Bombers spearhead Matthew Lloyd, who missed last year's semi-final loss to the Power, says he'll overcome a corked hip in time to play.

But star fullback Dustin Fletcher lost his appeal and will serve a two-match ban for striking Fremantle's Roger Hayden.

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