JAEGER O'Meara could resume his stalled Gold Coast career as soon as Saturday.
The 2013 Rising Star winner has not played a single minute of football since rupturing his patella tendon in a NEAFL practice match last April.
After 15 months of rehabilitation, O'Meara has satisfied the Suns he is ready to resume playing, but the final decision will fall to the dynamic midfielder.
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O'Meara's comfort in playing again is the club's priority.
If he decides to play, the 22-year-old will line up in the Suns' NEAFL team against Southport at Metricon Stadium on Saturday morning.
Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said a decision would be made following the club's final training run on Friday.
"The last part will come down to Jaeger being comfortable playing," Ashcroft said.
"We'll wait until Friday. I think he's close but you can never be certain until that last session is done.
"That's in Jaeger's court now."
O'Meara's injury woes started in the off-season following the 2014 season when he underwent surgery on both patella tendons.
He then ruptured one in his only practice match of the following pre-season.
Ashcroft said the West Australian could resume in any of the next three weeks.
Gold Coast has been dealt another injury blow, with news Adam Saad's hamstring injury is worse than first thought.
The dashing defender was slated to return against Hawthorn last week but aggravated the injury and will now miss up to another month.
However, his loss will be offset by the return of defender Kade Kolodjashnij.
"Good for Kade, (he suffered) a nasty concussion against Richmond two weeks ago before the bye," Ashcroft told the club website.
"He has basically missed two or three weeks, so he comes into the side, which is a great relief for our backmen."
Trent McKenzie – due to play his 100th match against St Kilda on Saturday – will also miss up to four weeks with a quad injury suffered against the Hawks.
Exciting young players Jack Martin (back) and Callum Ah Chee (calf) will be fit for this weekend.
Back-up ruck Dan Currie broke a finger in the NEAFL and will miss five to six weeks after having surgery on Monday.
