LUCKLESS Geelong forward Daniel Menzel is set to play his first game in more than two years, with the Cats planning for him to make his return through the VFL this weekend.
If the hard-working 23-year-old gets through training this week, he will line up for the Cats' VFL team against Werribee on Saturday.
"He's just to get through these sessions this week and he'll play this weekend," Cats football manager Steve Hocking told K Rock radio.
Menzel has had a shocking injury run during his six years in the AFL, undergoing four knee reconstructions since first
rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Hawthorn in the 2011 qualifying final.
The young Cat, who has 21 senior games to his name, has had three traditional knee reconstructions and underwent one LARS operation in January 2013.
He has also battled knee tendinitis in the past 18 months, which has further delayed his return to football.
Hocking said it was a great moment for Menzel and the rest of the club, which had seen the determined forward work overtime to get to this point.
"We just wish him well and hope all the work he's put in pays off for him," Hocking said.
"It'll be great because he's such a talented young man."
Hocking said Menzel's game time would be carefully managed.
"There'll be some restrictions … nothing too substantial that's going to hold him back, but certainly some because he hasn't played for such a long time."
Menzel has not played any football since April 2013 when he last pulled on the blue and white jumper in a VFL game.