The tribunal on Tuesday will deliver its verdict on whether the 34 current and former Essendon players issued with infraction notices used the banned peptide Thymosin Beta 4 during 2012.

Speaking at the Bendigo Football-Netball League season launch on Wednesday night, Harvey echoed the sentiments of Bombers captain Jobe Watson of the feeling of anxiety at Essendon as next Tuesday approaches.

“It’s become the most tense that I’ve seen it since I’ve been back there... it’s only five or six days away,” Harvey said.

“There are mixed thoughts in the articles that are getting written through the media every day.

“They (the players) have been through it for two or three years, but I don’t talk to them about it. It’s not my place to get involved in it or re-visit it with them.

“But I would have thought once this is over, the freedom they will play with will be to play to somewhere near the ability that I believe they can, and I think we’re legitimately a top four or top six team.

“It’s hard to put a finger on how all this is going to unfold, but the expectation is no matter what the decision is on Tuesday, we still have all our players ready for round one.”

Harvey - a triple premiership player with the Bombers - has this year returned to Essendon following coaching stints at Fremantle and Brisbane.

Also back at the Bombers this year is Essendon coaching legend Kevin Sheedy, who has been appointed the club’s general manager of commercial development and innovation.

“Sheeds is trying to market the club, and still has all these weird and wonderful ideas,” Harvey said.

“He put Essendon on the map in many ways with the Anzac Day game, the Dreamtime at the G game with Richmond, so he has been instrumental in promoting the game.

“I think he just wanted to come back and make sure it was the club he once knew.”