BRISBANE Lions midfield ace Dayne Beams is recovering strongly from knee tendinitis and could play as early as round six.

Beams has not played a game this season, but has run strongly in recent weeks and is expected to take part in his first main training session on Thursday morning.

If he gets through that and the knee does not regress, the 2015 joint best and fairest winner could line up against the Sydney Swans on May 1.

Lions football manager Matt Francis told AFL.com.au it was a delicate phase of Beams' rehab, but his progress was encouraging.

"We just have to see whether his knee can withstand the workload," Francis said.

"You'd think (playing) the week after his first main session is the best outcome and two weeks is achievable … as long as the knee doesn't go backwards."

Beams has completed running sessions of up to 12 kilometres and is now stringing together back-to-back sessions.

He missed the final five weeks of last season with a shoulder reconstruction, and after recovering well from that, picked up the knee problem post-Christmas.

"He might have to play with little bit of discomfort, but it'll get better and better," Francis said.

Captain Tom Rockliff just needs to complete Thursday's session to reclaim his spot against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.