GEELONG young gun Mitch Brown is aiming to cap his return from his second serious injury by lining up for the Cats in the NAB Cup next month.

Drafted in late 2008, Brown's first year at Skilled Stadium was ruined when he broke his leg in a VFL game against Collingwood early in the 2009 season.

He returned in 2010 and produced a series of impressive performances in the VFL, before he was sidelined again, this time by a dislocated shoulder.

"It's been pretty frustrating," Brown told afl.com.au. "I've played only six games in two years, so it hasn't been a great start to my career.

"I've just been unlucky, I suppose. Hopefully next year is a lot better."

Brown spent the first two months of Geelong's pre-season in the rehabilitation group, but is expecting to dramatically increase his training load in the coming weeks.

"My shoulder's feeling pretty good," Brown explained. "I've just started getting into the weights and it's been fine.

"All the fitness staff and the physios have been really good. They've been pushing me along to make sure I do everything right.

"I'll start doing contact work now and gradually build up towards the NAB Cup. That's the plan.

"I've been working a bit with Tom Hawkins and Daniel Menzel to make sure I know how things are meant to work up forward."

The 20-year-old's goal for 2011 is to finally play an AFL home and away game, but he admits he's still overcoming the mental scars that linger after serious injuries have healed.

"I still kind of think about it," Brown said. "Last year when I was playing the broken leg was still in the back of my mind a little bit.

"I guess I've got to try and overcome that. But it is hard."

Despite his lack of game time since joining the Cats, Brown has been touted as a replacement for Geelong's veteran forward Cameron Mooney, who is expected to retire in the next couple of years.

"There's a few of us probably fighting for the same spot," he said. "It will be good. I'm excited about that."