Angus Monfries knows time isn't on his side to break back into Port Adelaide's AFL side.
As one of the oldest returning past and present Essendon players, the forward needs to overcome a year out of the game, his ageing body and the rise of the Power's young brigade to regain regular senior selection.
"Obviously, a year out of footy's not ideal for someone at my age," Monfries, who turns 30 in January, told reporters in Adelaide on Monday.
Monfries has kicked 83 goals in his 60 AFL games for the Power since joining before the 2013 season, but missed the entire last season for his involvement in Essendon's supplements saga.
He and fellow former Bomber Paddy Ryder are expected to bolster the Power next year after a disappointing 2016 season where, in their absence, the club finished outside the eight for the second time in a row.
He backed ruckman Ryder to be a big factor in the Power's efforts to climb up the ladder.
"Someone of his class to go into the centre square and do what he does there and then have that versatility to go forward and hit the scoreboard is going to be great for us," he said.
But Monfries himself is not an automatic selection with star Chad Wingard, defender-turned-forward Jarman Impey, and youngsters Aaron Young, Sam Gray and Karl Amon making a case this year for small-to-medium size forward spots.
"There's some guys that have stepped up and played some really good footy," Monfries said.
"I'm under no illusions that I'm going to have to try and earn my spot back and train really hard and have a great summer.
"But I'm up for the challenge and looking forward to it."
Monfries, who signed a one-year contract extension last month, and Ryder began pre-season training last week and had all of their Court of Arbitration for Sport-imposed restrictions lifted on Monday.
Monfries said he enlisted the help of former Power forward Brett Ebert to undertake fitness training and had dropped a few kilograms ahead of the pre-season.
"I've had a year trying to keep myself as fit as I can and present as well as I can," he said.
"I'm feeling fresh and ready to go and injury-free at the moment."
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