DANIEL Wells is aiming to return to theKangaroos team for the round 13 clash against the Bulldogs at the MCG – justin time for what shapes as Glenn Archer's 300th game.
Wells, who injured the medial ligament inhis left knee during the Roos' round seven win over the Bombers, said he wasn'ttaking any chances with his injury to ensure he would be playing in themilestone game with the Shinboner of the Century.
"I was sort of hoping I might be readyin time for the Adelaide game in round 12, but realistically, I think theBulldogs game was always going to be the game I'd come back in.
"It makes sense to come back in the weekafter the bye but it's even better that it will be in time for Archie's 300th.He's a legend of the club so I think everyone is pretty keen to play in thatone and I'm no different."
As you would expect, Wells has beendiligent in his recovery, meaning he will return from injury at about the timethe club doctors first forecast.
He has been working hard on the bike, thegrinder and the cross-trainer (a machine that replicates a kind of skiingaction) and receiving physio twice a week.
He confesses he was glad to finally get o ntothe track last week for a bit of a run around, as he's not the biggest fan ofdoing his cardio work in the gym.
This week will be an even bigger bonus,when he gets to run around ArdenStreet without his brace for the first time since sustainingthe injury.
"I started running last week with thebrace on and this week I'm going to run a few laps without the brace so I canpush myself a bit harder.
"A lot of the pain has gone away andit's feeling pretty strong now, so it's a matter of getting confident in theknee when I twist and turn. I'm still a couple of weeks away from doing that,so I'll move on to that once I get through the straight-line running."
Wells admits that he's not the bestspectator when he forced onto the sidelines, but says that he feels itimportant for all the senior players to show their support by getting along tothe games if they aren't able to play.
"I'm a pretty nervous watcher,especially the first couple of games we played. I really don't like to watchbut it's important to go out to support your teammates when you get the chance.
"But I suppose when the boys have awin, it's pretty exciting and you can see how the supporters get so worked up.During that Melbournegame, my heart was going at a million miles an hour, so when they got up, itwas a bit of a buzz actually."
In the meantime, Wells said he willcontinue to do the hard work to make sure he's ready to go on what looms as amassive day for the club and for his mate.
"I'll do whatever they doctors want meto do to get myself right to go. I've already missed the game in front of myfamily and friends against West Coast, and the week before that in theIndigenous Round, so I'm going to do everything I can to get myself right forArchie, no doubt about it."
