Gray missed the majority of last season due to a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained against Collingwood in April.
Senior coach Ken Hinkley told FIVEaa that Gray’s return on 7.00pm on Saturday night as part of the trial team for SANFL club West Adelaide's will be the final stage of his rehabilitation.
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"Robbie Gray will be having his first bit of comeback football which is incredibly exciting for the Port Adelaide people and obviously Robbie himself," said Hinkley.
"The buzz he creates for the players when he came out to training six/seven weeks ago ... is enourmously exciting.
"The transformation of Robbie Gray the person from when he's done his knee last year to where he is now - now part of our leadership group - is an enourmous buzz.
"Hopefully he gets through Saturday night all good and builds towards getting back into AFL football.
"I still see Robbie as being in his rehab but this is an important step for him."
The positive news on Gray’s return headlines the confirmed availability of a raft of players.
Angus Monfries, Brent Renouf and Tom Logan have all been made available for selection this week – either at AFL or SANFL level.
Monfries is likely to play for the Power against Sydney at AAMI Stadium on Saturday at 1.00pm.
Renouf’s return is a massive plus for the Power with the prospect of having three ruckmen available a significant milestone for the club.
“He (Renouf) is going to be really important for us, the club recruited him for some obvious reasons: he’s a big, strong, aggressive ruckman from Hawthorn,” said Hinkley.
“When he gets his body in a condition to play AFL football he’ll be a very valuable (team) member to us.”
The news leaves Dom Cassisi, Brett Ebert and Nick Salter the only players on the injury list, with Cassisi expected to return before the season start.
Ebert is expected to return through the SANFL next week, while Salter remains on the long-term injury list.
Director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson told portadelaidefc.com.au the chance to hit round 1 with just one player on the injury list.
“It’s really positive, there’s no doubt you need a healthy list to put pressure on for spots,” said Richardson.
“It gives the match committee flexibility in crafting the best possible team we need on a week-by-week basis.
“In the long term it’s a real positive when we can talk about quality players like Cassisi, Renouf, Gray coming back from injury.”
Richardson was quick to highlight that form will dictate selection in the senior side.
“It’s one thing to have the boys back, but its another to have them back in the team playing the footy we know they can,” he said.
“They won’t play in the team when their magnet gets put in the available column, it will be when their form dictates selection.”
Injury list as of 13 March 2013
Angus Monfries - available
Jack Hombsch – available
Cam Hitchcock – available
John Butcher – available
Robbie Gray – available
Brent Renouf – available
Tom Logan – available
Dom Cassisi – calf (1 week)
Brett Ebert - hamstring (1 week)
Nick Salter – foot (indefinite)
