He's starting to burn up the training track, but West Coast defender Eric Mackenzie has no plans to make a dream comeback during this year's AFL finals series.
Mackenzie has been sidelined since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a pre-season match in February.
The 27-year-old's injury led many pundits to write off West Coast's top-eight chances, but the Eagles are now just one win away from the grand final after producing a standout campaign.
Mackenzie's rehabilitation appears ahead of schedule, with the 196cm backman training strongly this week to showcase his swift progression.
But fellow defender Will Schofield said there was no chance of a fairytale comeback for Mackenzie this year.
"He's been running around with us the last couple of weeks," Schofield said ahead of Saturday night's preliminary final against North Melbourne in Perth.
"I've just been making sure he's not sneaking up to have a berth this week or next.
"He assures me he's not quite up to it yet."
Schofield and Jeremy McGovern have stepped up brilliantly to fill the void left by Mackenzie and Mitch Brown.
Should the Eagles win the flag this year, Schofield said the injured duo would be at the forefront of the players' minds.
"Those guys will be hurting, definitely," Schofield said.
"I'm thinking of them all the time, but you also have to remember you've got a job to do and they know that as well."
Mackenzie has played a key role on match-day by passing on vital advice to the team's defenders.
"He's able to see things that maybe coaches can't," Schofield said.
"So you get the little insights and sometimes more direct feedback than the coaches are able to give you."
The Eagles' defence will be put to the test against a potent Kangaroos forward line featuring Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite, and Ben Brown.
But Schofield is confident his team's undersized defence is up to the task.
