MELBOURNE defender Trent Rivers will be looking to make a return to AFL this weekend, following a short stint on the sidelines with a knee injury. 

Simon Goodwin joined media at Melbourne’s Wednesday training, providing an update on Rivers’ positive progress in his rehabilitation.

“There’s a big likelihood that Trent will come into the team based on the work that he’s done over the last three or four weeks,” Goodwin said.

“He’s done a power of work in terms of his rehabilitation…we’re really hopeful that he’ll come back in and perform really strongly.”

While it was good news for Rivers, fellow defender Jake Lever, who missed Round 1 with a foot injury, will remain out of action for Melbourne's Saturday clash against the Gold Coast SUNS. 

“We’re going to take a cautious approach with Jake, and he won’t play this week,” Goodwin said.

“He’s still a little bit sore in his foot…we need to make sure he’s right to go and we’ll make sure we mend him the right way.”

In recent weeks, Melbourne’s defensive stocks have taken some injury hits, resulting in the depth of the backline being put to the test. 

Goodwin praised the Demon defenders who bolstered the backline and showcased their strength in the team's 26-point win over the Bulldogs last Wednesday.

"Those guys stood up incredibly well, they’re well coached by Troy Chaplin," Goodwin said.

"Tom McDonald went down there, Angus Brayshaw went down there, the guys that missed out last year in Joel Smith, Adam Tomlinson and Jayden Hunt, [they] all performed incredibly well together.

"We’re going to ask a lot of them in the next four or five weeks to actually step-up and perform well as a group and that’s one of our challenges but one we’re looking forward to."

Melbourne are preparing for their next challenge in their first interstate game of 2022, taking on the Gold Coast SUNS on Saturday 8 March. 

The night match will be the side's long-awaited return to Metricon Stadium, having last played on Queensland soil during Round 18 of the 2020 season.

“We love that fans are coming back to footy,” Goodwin said.

“We haven’t seen our Queensland supporters for a long time, so to get as many fans up to Queensland and to have our Queensland fans there would be brilliant.

“Because we haven’t seen them for a few years now, the more fans we can get there, the better.”

Melbourne is encouraging its fans to head down to Metricon and show their support for the Dees, with tickets still available to be purchased here.