POTENTIAL No.1 pick Cameron Rayner has returned to running by completing a 2km time trial in front of recruiters on Friday after a knee injury ruled him out of last month's NAB AFL Draft Combine.

Rayner was one of four draft prospects to do the test at Etihad Stadium on Friday, with the Western Jets gun finishing in about 7:57 minutes.

The 18-year-old's aerobic base is considered his main query as the Brisbane Lions strongly consider him for their prized top pick at next week's draft.

To put Rayner's effort in context, the winner of the time trial at last month's national combine, Dylan Moore, completed it in 6:09 while perhaps Rayner's main challenger for the No.1 spot, Andrew Brayshaw, ran it in 6:14 at the combine.

Rayner hasn't played in nearly three months after the Jets' TAC Cup season ended and he nursed a knee injury, so there weren't high expectations among scouts for him to blitz the test on Friday.

A stronger time – recruiters suggested something around the seven-minute mark –  could have gone some way to sealing his place at the top of the draft order, but his slower result is unlikely to see Rayner drop down the board as it is a recognised area for improvement for him. 

South Australian Darcy Fogarty claimed the best time of the players in the trial, running approximately 7:33 seconds after overcoming a knee injury he underwent surgery on mid-season.

Fogarty is on the radar of North Melbourne, Collingwood, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs as a top-10 pick despite struggling for form throughout this season.

Callum Coleman-Jones (7:35) and Charlie Constable (7:58) also completed the run ahead of undergoing further tests with club medicos in the afternoon.  

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