AFTER two agonising years battling a serious foot injury, Jack Trengove is "creeping closer" to a senior return but will be made to wait at least another week to make his long-awaited comeback, Melbourne coach Paul Roos says.
The former co-captain hasn't played AFL since round two, 2014 but after seven impressive matches in the VFL this season, Trengove has told Roos he is ready to be considered by the Demons.
However, the Dees will resist the temptation to bring the 24-year-old straight in for a crunch clash against Port Adelaide at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.
"I spoke to (Trengove) again today. He's not too far (away). He's going really, really well. He's not going to play this week," Roos said.
"You're probably factoring in the travel, the team going well last week, things like that.
"We want to give Jack a chance, when he does play, to be able to play really well.
"He's creeping closer, but it's not going to be this weekend."
The Dees will make two changes to the side that thumped the Brisbane Lions, with Dom Tyson (illness) and Neville Jetta (suspension) set to return.
Young gun Clayton Oliver (corked quad) walked laps at a wet training session on Thursday and has already been ruled out, with Melbourne yet to decide who else will make way.
Melbourne is starting to build some genuine depth, with Aaron vandenBerg, Jack Grimes and Chris Dawes among the experienced players helping the Casey Scorpions' to a win over Hawthorn-affiliate Box Hill last round.
Dawes has now played three VFL games and booted seven goals after returning from persistent calf issues, with the big forward on the verge of a senior call-up.
"(He's going) really well. I was really pleased with his game last week," Roos said.
"Once again, he's one that's creeping up and getting really close. We won last week so it's hard to make changes."
The news isn't so good for former top 10 draft pick Christian Salem, who is out indefinitely after a thyroid issue flared again.
"We're guided a lot by the doctors obviously, in terms of how he goes. I think they're getting blood tests every second day and it's a matter of getting it under control," Roos said.
"We're hoping he's not going to be out for too long, but again it's a 100 per cent medical call at the moment and we'll just wait and see how that goes."
Melbourne will take 24 players to Alice Springs for Saturday's clash with the Power, which is the second-last match in the Dees' three-year deal to 'sell' home games to the Northern Territory.
Reports suggest the club is close extending the agreement.
The developing Demons have had limited success in the NT, winning two of their six games in Darwin and yet to break their duck in Alice Springs after losing to Port Adelaide by 61 and 20 points over the past two seasons.
