ZAK Butters is back - and his minutes in the SANFL at Elizabeth will be managed to keep the energetic midfielder in contention for an AFL recall five days later.
Butters will play his first match of competitive football since Friday, April 9 in Port Adelaide's State league clash with Central District. The prospect of Port Adelaide hosting AFL leader Melbourne at Adelaide Oval just five days later - in Thursday Night Football - will demand a careful watch on Butters' work-out in the SANFL.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has no concern with Butters' fitness or strength after an at-times difficult recovery from ankle and knee injuries that required a second round of surgery.
"It is really good news - and he is going out there to have a bit of freedom. Zak will play the way Zak plays," Hinkley said in Melbourne on Friday. "There is no controlling him, the way he plays. He will go after it pretty hard.
"The (minutes) will be controlled to some extent. But they will not be controlled massively. It will be more controlled around the opportunities as to what next week might present to us (with Melbourne) - and margining Zak into a five-day break."
The quick turnaround from Saturday to Thursday matches "is a challenge physically," adds Hinkley, "but you just have to prepare well and recover really well."
News at Thursday selection of Butters' return to competitive football surprised - and pleased - many. Hinkley explained the quicker-than-anticipated progress on the training track is a reward to Butters for his work ethic since unexpected surgery to correct a nerve around his knee on May 20.
"Zak trained really impressively Tuesday and Thursday," Hinkley said. "He has pushed really quickly which is great for us and great for Zak. He will just go out and play a normal game of football and give himself every opportunity to come into the AFL.
"Zak's progression has been consistent over six to eight weeks now. What we have been mindful of - when we were not sure how the (recovery would play out) - is the accuracy with our injury assessment was really difficult.
"We knew as soon as Zak was ready that he would come quick. We have said over the past couple of weeks - and from what I have seen at training - 'Why can't he play?' He looked like he was ready to play.
"This week it just got to the point where there is nothing more to be proved by him running around at training. He just needs to go and play some footy."
Port Adelaide's injury list is shortening with the SANFL game against Central District ushering the return of key defender Tom Clurey (broken jaw) and father-son pick Jackson Mead (ruptured spleen).
Experienced defender Hamish Hartlett, a late withdrawal from the Sydney clash at Adelaide Oval last weekend with a hip concern felt during the warm-up, also resumes in the SANFL.
Midfielder Xavier Duursma (knee) could return to action next week.
