TRIPLE All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn is set to end his three-game injury absence on Saturday night against St Kilda ruck duo Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder.
20 MINUTES OF PAIN Injuries add to Demons' costly loss
As Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin foreshadowed last week, Gawn will face the Saints after proving his fitness following a shoulder tear then a posterior cruciate ligament issue.
The Demons have also ticked off former captain Nathan Jones, after he was a late withdrawal last week with quad tightness. No follow-up scans were required.
Assuming the 32-year-old plays St Kilda at Alice Springs' Traeger Park, it will be his 293rd AFL appearance.
Gawn negotiated match simulation training on Monday and will train again on Wednesday, after Goodwin said he was "very, very close" to being selected against the Western Bulldogs.
He is likely to replace Braydon Preuss in Melbourne's line-up, while fellow ruckman Luke Jackson (hamstring) is eyeing a round 18 return.
Two young Demon midfielders, Tom Sparrow (broken collarbone) and James Jordon (finger), have undergone surgery and will miss at least the next month.
THE FULL INJURY LIST Who is racing the clock?
Sparrow collided with Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli in Saturday's 28-point defeat to the Dogs, while Jordon sustained his injury in a gym accident last week.
