JESSE Hogan will return to action against Carlton on Sunday just eight weeks after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Hogan had surgery at the start of May following the Demons' round eight win over Adelaide but returned to training before the end of the month.
Sunday's clash with the Blues will be the 22-year-old's fifth game for this season.
He was suspended for two weeks early in the season, and then missed a game after the death of his father.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin reminded Hogan's teammates at training on Friday how good it was to have him back in the team.
"Just to get him back around the football club with a smile on his face and get out there doing something that he really loves is a pretty special moment for him and also the footy club," Goodwin said.
"He is someone who can inspire his teammates. Jesse is a quiet person, but he is highly respected."
Goodwin said Hogan had trained strongly for three weeks and was ready to play.
With both Jack Viney and Nathan Jones sidelined through injury, the Demons have decided to share the captaincy load among its leadership group rather than appointing an interim captain.
Goodwin said Max Gawn was likely to toss the coin against Carlton, but no-one would carry the official title, with Tom McDonald, Bernie Vince and Jordan Lewis job-sharing.
"We can use this as an opportunity to grow our leadership even further," Goodwin said.
Both Hogan and Lewis were suspended for incidents the last time the Demons played Carlton in round two, but Goodwin said the club had moved on from that game.
He said Carlton was hard to play against and the Demons would need to rise to the challenge, particularly around the contest.
Jeff Garlett will return to play against his former club after missing last week with injury.