The 31-year-old has been sidelined since round four by an issue that the club has described as soreness in a hamstring tendon.
"He ran (on Tuesday) and he felt really good running," Snelling told CatsTV.
"He said that he felt like he could run a lot faster, but we didn't let him.
"So we'll progress his running this week and hopefully that's the start of his return to training."
Even if all goes to plan, Chapman is considered to be at least three weeks away from playing again.
In contrast, big man Nathan Vardy is a good chance to line up for the Cats in Saturday night's clash with Fremantle at Simonds Stadium.
Vardy missed the shock loss to the Brisbane Lions after hurting his back in a training accident.
"In the gym last week, he was jumping over a hurdle, as part of his program, and just on take-off he felt a little twinge in his back," Snelling explained.
"So that precluded him from any activity thereafter.
"He's had a really good rest over the weekend and he's looking pretty good, so he'll be a 'test' later in the week."
Snelling is adamant that Vardy's injury is not related to his troublesome hip.
"It's his back, it's something new … so no real concerns there."
Trent West is also considered a good chance to return to take on the Dockers after also missing the game against the Lions due to back soreness.
"He had a slight twinge when he was training and kicking round the corner," Snelling said.
"It looked like it was a tiny ligament sprain in his back.
"He was pretty good towards the end of the week, but we were a bit conservative about it, so he missed, and he'll also be a test for this week."
Half-forward Travis Varcoe, who suffered a serious shoulder injury early in the season and has been in rehab for 11 weeks, is edging closer to a return.
"We just need to tick some things off with his surgeon," Snelling said.
"We've done some scans, and we just have to look at the bone healing around his operation to make sure that's all healed before we give him the green light to do some contact work out on the ground.
"Once he can do that, he'll only need a few sessions under his belt before he'll be a 'test' for selection."
Ruckman Hamish McIntosh, who is battling an ankle problem, has been running on an anti-gravity treadmill as he endeavours to keep his season alive, while another off-season recruit, defender Jared Rivers, is back in full training.
Rivers is a chance to return via the VFL this weekend.
