Western Bulldogs midfielder Mitch Wallis is set to play his first game in nine months, when he lines up for the club's VFL side this weekend.
After breaking his leg in round 18 last year against St Kilda, Wallis' rehabilitation has been close to perfect and Fairfax Media understands he's almost certain to play against North Ballarat at the Whitten Oval on Friday night.
It was originally feared Wallis would be out for 12 months, but after a successful procedure by surgeon David Young, medical experts were hopeful he would face a reduced period on the sidelines.
Wallis has been training fully with the main squad for several weeks and only needs to get through a final session before being selected in the reserves.
The 24-year-old had been enjoying a strong season up until the injury, averaging 22 disposals and kicking 11 goals in his 17 games during 2016.
The in-and-under midfielder was then forced to miss the most remarkable period in the club's history, and has spoken at length about how being absent for the premiership will drive him to pursue future success.
"There's enough premiership photos and memorabilia around the joint that I get reminded about it every day, so it's making me push that much harder," Wallis said earlier this year.
"There's a few of us who did miss out, so there's plenty of people coming back into the side and making us a better club and looking forward."
Meantime, fellow Bulldog Stewart Crameri is also a chance to return to football through the VFL, although he may need one more week as he recovers from two separate hip injuries.
Apart from key forwards Travis Cloke and Jack Redpath, ruckman Jordan Roughead and Dale Morris, the Bulldogs have a strong squad to pick from for Friday night's blockbuster against Greater Western Sydney in what be a rematch of last year's epic preliminary final.
Caleb Daniel is again in the mix after a solid performance in the VFL last week. The diminutive midfield maestro was dropped after round three, following a breakout season in 2016 where he only missed one match and was a key player during the finals campaign.
Daniel had 24 disposals and kicked a goal the last time the two sides met, as he helped propel the Dogs into a history-making grand final.
