MATTHEW Leuenberger is taking a 'less is more' approach this pre-season as the Brisbane Lions ruckman tries to beat the injury curse that has plagued his eight-year career.
Leuenberger suffered a knee injury in round four last season and only returned to the senior team in time for the final round.
It continued a run of outs that has dogged the athletic 26-year-old for much of his time in the AFL.
At his best, Leuenberger is arguably one of the finest ruckmen in the league, but has played just 94 games in his eight years.
Something has to give, and that something is the pre-season.
"Whenever I had a full pre-season, I tend to break down by the first four rounds," Leuenberger told AFL.com.au.
"It's not clear-cut, but there's a trend there.
"Whenever I have completed full pre-seasons, I tend to fall down in the first four to five rounds, so it's just being smart and managing it, which we're doing."
Three times he has been injured inside the first month of the season, with this year the only time he got back on the park.
In 2009 it was a lateral meniscus (knee) tear, compounded by a post-surgery staph infection that wiped out his season.
In 2012 it was an Achilles problem, and this year, another meniscus tear.
Leuenberger is back to full fitness, but said he would continue to take it easier.
"I'm only doing two out of the three main sessions each week, which is helping," he said.
"I'm not heavily fatigued going into sessions, which I think is making a difference.
"This isn't the most important time of year for me, it's obviously playing, so we just build it up slowly with an emphasis of being right for the season."
Leuenberger is in the final year of his contract and will become a restricted free agent at season's end, but has no thoughts of moving.
He is one of the undoubted leaders around the young Lions' group, and said if the club wanted him, he'd be staying.
"Success should technically go in four-to-five year windows … but unfortunately in my time it's been pretty constant that we've been down the bottom," he said.
"I think we're in good shape to make some tracks forwards.
"I've come from a full year missed, just about, so I want to stay. It'd be nice to finish my career here and get some reward for effort, but we'll see how it pans out."
