MELBOURNE has confirmed Jack Trengove will face Hawthorn on Saturday at the MCG, 797 days after the former skipper's last senior game for the club.

Trengove, who has suffered serious foot problems, will play his first AFL game since March 30, 2014.  

Melbourne coach Paul Roos said the midfielder's return was "a great story and an unbelievable story".

"He comes in, in really good form and I’m pretty excited about seeing him play," he told the club's website.

The 24-year-old had played seven consecutive games for  Casey Scorpions in the VFL before the team had a bye last week.

"There were times when I’m sure he wouldn’t have thought he’d play again and the medical staff and coaches were uncertain, even if they were optimistic," Roos said.

Trengove was originally not expected to return until after the Demons' bye in round 14.

"I definitely feel like he’s probably three or four weeks ahead of what I thought," Roos said.

"I was thinking (he'd return) around the bye or the second half of the season, so he’s done a terrific job to get back as quickly as what he’s done. That’s the biggest thing that hits me when he’s playing this weekend."