INJURED Melbourne defender James Frawley could be available by the early stages of April after being given the go ahead to increase his level of activity next week.

The 22-year-old had surgery last week to repair the torn pectoral muscle he injured in a freak accident while completing a bench press drill.

The recent All-Australian could yet still play in the Demons’ season opener against the Sydney Swans but coach Dean Bailey believes he is more likely to remain out for the recommended 12 weeks.

"He’s walking around and he’ll probably walk/jog next week," Bailey told SEN on Monday morning.

"He’s really keen to start to be more active. When you’re active for so long and you get a situation where you’re injured, your program has certainly been pushed back.

"We’d like to think he’ll be available in rounds three or four, somewhere like that, and if he gets back a bit earlier, so be it.

"He’s not someone we’re going to rush back."

Frawley had a season to remember in 2010, playing 21 games and placing second in the club’s best and fairest to recently appointed captain Brad Green.

He capped off his year with Australian representation in the International Rules Series in Ireland.

The Demons kick off their NAB Cup campaign against Adelaide and Port Adelaide in the first of six round robin competitions on Friday February 11 at AAMI Stadium.

Bailey said the format of the first round "wasn’t ideal" but understood why it had been introduced.

"You still play against the same number of players, you still get your 18 and six," he said.

"It’s almost like the first round is about getting rid of clubs and then setting up the next three rounds.

"You’ve got 18 clubs to get through and it would have been a very difficult situation for the AFL to put forward a fair and reasonable competition in the first round or they might have had to extend it another week."

Bailey said the Demons would play their "fittest players" in the early stages of the NAB Cup.