PORT ADELAIDE speedster Matt White has signed a one-year contract extension that will tie him to the Power until the end of next season.
The 29-year-old is on the cusp of returning to the field after being sidelined since round one with a pectoral injury.
"When I got told it was in the works and they finally signed off on it, it was a bit of a relief, but it wasn't really at the front of my mind,'' White told reporters in Adelaide on Wednesday.
"It was all about getting on track and trying to get a game again.
''I'm really happy to be sticking around for another year.''
The small forward is aiming to return in ''three to four weeks'', but will be guided by how the injury progresses.
"We keep saying we're about a month away – it keeps getting shorter and longer every week,'' White said.
"The club hasn't had a (pectoral) injury before so we can't put a date on it.
"If it's feeling good, we'll push it. If it's not, we'll leave it alone.''
White trained with the Power on Wednesday as they prepare for Saturday night's clash with Fremantle at Domain Stadium.
Key forward Jay Schulz completed the full session and could return from back surgery.
"There's a little bit of jealousy,'' White said.
''You know he's going to be playing footy and I'm still going to be sitting there on the sidelines, but it's good to see the guys come out (of rehab).
''You don't want to see anyone in there.''
The one positive for White during his injury-enforced layoff is that it's given him the chance to improve his own game while watching from the coach's box.
''Sitting up nice and high, you see everything pretty quickly,'' he said.
''It's been good to talk to the young guys about what they're doing.
"It really puts into perspective what myself (and fellow small forwards) Jake Neade and Jarman Impey need to do well.
''You can see if you're not running to the right spots or getting to the right positions to help the team.
''It's good that I can understand that better and talk to the small forwards about that.''
Power coach Ken Hinkley is looking forward to having the pacy 146-gamer at his disposal.
"People know what 'Whitey' gives us - unfortunately we just haven’t been able to see it because of injury this year,” Hinkley told the Power's website.
"It's that exciting run with the football and his ability to create score from it that we really like, and we're looking forward to getting him back on the park.
"We see him as a really important part of our forward structure and this announcement is a good boost for him ahead of his return after the bye."
White's signature is the second secured for Port in a week, with Aaron Young committing to a similar deal last Wednesday.
