MATTHEW Whelan is looking forward to re-establishing himselfas a permanent fixture in the Melbourneline-up.

After a horror 2007 season, in which he could manage justfive senior matches due to a series of leg injuries, the reliable Demon facesone of his most important summers.

The 28-year-old will attempt to return to his superb 2006form but also fend off the challenge from the new breed of Demons forcing theirway through the ranks.

While acknowledging the battle for competition in the seniorside is healthy, Whelan is eager to show new coach Dean Bailey – as well assome of the young guns snapping at his heels – that there is plenty of run leftin the 128-game veteran’s legs.

“I’ve got to prove myselfagain,” Whelan said.

“A few young blokes stepped upand got an opportunity towards the end of last year.

“I’ve got to win my spot backand that’s what I’m aiming to do.

“They’re gunning for my spot …I’ve got to show them who’s boss.”

Whelan suffered an interrupted pre-season last year whichseverely hampered his 2007 campaign.

After having spurs removed from an ankle, the joint failedto properly heal, resulting in an injury-plagued season for the hard-runningdefender.

“They caused me a lot of grief and a lot of soft-tissuesoreness through my leg where the ankle was, so that sort of just kept me outof training until after Christmas,” Whelan said of last year’s pre-season.

“That was basically the main reason I didn’t play all year,and when I did play I sort of hurt it a fair bit.

“I was trying to have injections to try to stop the pain butthe pain sort of got too much in the end.”

Whelan’s ankle is on the mend while a subsequent operationto repair shoulder damage is also on the improve.

“It was a very frustrating year last year, but it’s good tobe running around just before Christmas this year,” he said.

“Obviously watching footy’s nofun.

“It’s just good to be running around before Christmas, Imean this time last year I was still not even running.”

Whelan is still among the Demons’ rehabilitation group attraining but is preparing to rejoin the main group in coming weeks, and he knowsjust how important regaining full fitness is to his future – especially with anew coach at the helm.

“Everyone comes in with a clean slate, everyone’s trying toimpress,” Whelan said of Bailey’s appointment.

“We’ve had a bit of a talk, justbasically about what he wants from me this year.

“We’ve set out a few things to work on this year.”