PORT Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi will make his long-awaited comeback from injury with West Adelaide in the SANFL next weekend.

Online Game Day: News, PTV Exclusives Post-Game, Game Day Chat & More

Cassisi suffered a fractured tibia and minor cartilage damage to his knee when he tried to stand up in a tackle in the opening quarter of the club's loss to West Coast in round two.

The 28-year-old had arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage to his knee and spent two weeks on crutches.

He has completed a "mini pre-season", comprising of rigorous swimming, cycling, running and weights sessions over the past three weeks and was cleared to start full training on Monday.

He will be available for selection next week and probably would've been rushed straight back into the team, but the timing of the Power's first bye means he'll make a return via the local league.

Cassisi hasn't played for West Adelaide since 2003, but said the hit-out would be good preparation for his likely AFL return against West Coast in round 13.

"The timing's actually not too bad. I've missed a lot of footy and the fact that we've got a bye next week allows me to have a run with Westies," Cassisi told afl.com.au.

"If [the Power] were playing next weekend, I might have come straight back in or played as a sub, but the decision was made for me.

"It's a different group at Westies to what I played with when I was last out there in '03', but I'm excited to get back there because they were good to me when I was there."

A number of experienced players across the AFL have spent time in the local leagues this season.

Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge, Geelong premiership players Paul Chapman and Cameron Ling, Western Bulldogs defender Brian Lake and Melbourne's former first-round draft pick Tom Scully have all played in the VFL to gain match fitness.

Cassisi said the substitute rule made it difficult to "carry" players who were underdone from a conditioning perspective.

"If you take a few players in [underdone], you put the team at risk in the second half of the game," he said.

"Even though I've done that mini pre-season, you just need that match fitness, especially with the way I play, with a bit more tackling and a lot of knocks and bumps."

Frustrated by his inability to contribute on the field, Cassisi assumed a role working alongside part-time midfield coach Dean Laidley and his assistant Ryan McMillan during his nine-week stint on the sidelines.

The tough onballer didn't rule out a possible career in coaching in the future.

"I haven't thought about it too much, but you can see the thrill you would get out of coaching in terms of helping guys develop and seeing them grow," he said.

"Broges [Dean Brogan] and I have been a bit proactive in trying to help out the midfield being such a young group.

"It's been enjoyable to do something that keeps you involved when you're injured."

Prior to breaking his leg, Cassisi had only missed two games in almost five years.

He admitted it was tough watching from the sidelines, particularly given the club's difficult start to the season.

"You feel what the boys feel, even though you're not playing," he said.

"We've just tried to keep the group together and it was great to see the boys play four quarters against Richmond on the weekend.

"It should give us all a lot of confidence that the path we're going down is the right path if we can deliver a four-quarter effort."

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill