BRENDAN Whitecross will play his first game since September 2013 when he returns from his second knee reconstruction with Hawthorn's VFL affiliate Box Hill on Saturday.

 

Whitecross has not played since the Hawks' 2013 preliminary final win over Geelong, when he ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament for the second time in a year.

 

But AFL.com.au understands the 25-year-old utility will make his long-awaited comeback for the Box Hill Hawks in a practice match against Casey at Casey Fields on Saturday.

 

Hawks assistant coach Cameron Bruce said last Sunday that Whitecross could play in the Hawks' final NAB Challenge game against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Thursday (March 19).

 

"The supporters enjoy Brendan being out there, the players certainly do, he offers a lot of versatility to our line-up and it's important that you get those players back," Bruce said after Hawthorn's NAB Challenge loss to North Melbourne.

 

"He's experienced, he knows the set-ups, he'll be hungry there's no doubt about that.

 

"I think we've seen that with a guy like Jed Anderson, guys that miss a lot of footy come in and provide real energy and enthusiasm, so it will be a big plus to get him out there."

 

Whitecross' horror run of injuries has so far cost him the chance to play in a Grand Final, let alone a premiership, with the Hawks.

 

The versatile Queenslander had established himself as a regular senior player in 2011-12, but he was part of the 2011 preliminary final team that was pipped by three points by Collingwood and then ruptured his ACL for the first time in the Hawks' qualifying final win over the Pies a year later.

 

Whitecross was just 12 games into his comeback from that injury when his ACL gave way again, one week before the Hawks' 2013 Grand Final triumph over Fremantle.

 

The 84-game player is set to become a free agent at the end of this season.