MELBOURNE could give young star Jesse Hogan until the last moment to prove his fitness as it gathers its young core for Saturday's clash against Hawthorn at the MCG.
The Demons are preparing to select a young team to face the three-time premier, including 19-year-old debutant Sam Weideman and returning midfielder Clayton Oliver, who has hit excellent VFL form.
Hogan will join them if he can prove his fitness in the next 24 to 48 hours, having jogged laps on Thursday morning in a light training session at Gosch's Paddock
"He did what we asked him to do today, which was always going to be pretty light, just a bit of a jog to see how he's feeling … he's progressing," coach Paul Roos said
"It's a six-day break and we've got a Saturday game, so the plan would be to name him, unless he pulls up really sore this afternoon before we name the team, and then to jog him in the morning.
"If he's better and he feels good (on Friday), we'll progress to playing, (and) the next hurdle would be if he doesn't feel great in the warm-up.
"But I suspect if he gets through tomorrow he'll be fine."
Hogan injured his knee last Sunday when he slid into the point post at the MCG during Melbourne’s two-point win over Gold Coast.
Saturday's clash against the Hawks is shaping as a showcase of the Demons' young talent, with Oliver returning after four weeks in the VFL, winning 37 possessions in his last hit-out with the Casey Scorpion
"It's the first time we'll see Oliver, (Christian) Petracca, (Angus) Brayshaw and Weideman in the same team," Roos said.
"In a really tough game it's going to be exciting to see how they perform."
Roos said there had been a lot of energy among his players this week on the back of last week's thrilling win, made possible by Jack Watts' clutch shot on goal and game-saving mark.
"I've sensed a bit of excitement around the club, but you've got to understand the quality of the opposition," the coach said.
"That excitement can change pretty quickly in the opening five minutes if you don't get off to a good star
"It's going to be a challenge and they need to look at it as 120 minutes of hard, tough footy.
"If they can do that then we can acquit ourselves well."
