FREMANTLE goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne says playing to keep his career alive will be the last thing on his mind when he returns from hamstring surgery.
Ballantyne is facing about two months on the sidelines after damaging his hamstring tendon in the Dockers' final JLT Community Series clash against Carlton.
The 29-year-old, who explored a trade to West Coast at the end of last year, is in the final season of his current contract but said he isn't worried about his playing future.
"That would be selfish of me to go out and play for my career (when I return)," Ballantyne told Channel Nine.
"I want to go out there and win games of footy and play finals with my team and do the best I can to improve that team.
"All that (contract) stuff is in the back of my mind. I'm not fazed one bit."
The small forward hurt his hamstring when he fell to the ground after being pushed by Blues youngster Jack Silvagni as he kicked.
"I got a little push and stumbled and then stepped in a little pothole and stumbled again," Ballantyne said.
"It just felt like a sledgehammer whacking me in the back of the leg."
Ballantyne has been wearing a full leg brace and using crutches since his operation last week and will soon begin a walking and running program.
"I'm hoping to play before the mid-season bye (in round 13) to get a couple of games in," he said.
"The bonus is, once you have the surgery, after eight weeks it is pretty well back to 100 per cent."
Before his injury, Ballantyne had ticked-off an impressive pre-season in a bid to get back to his 2014 All Australian form.
His absence means the Dockers will go into round one without three of their top-five goalkickers from last season.
Club great Matthew Pavlich (31 goals last year) has retired and pressure forward Chris Mayne (18) has departed to Collingwood.
Ballantyne booted 26 goals from 20 matches last season.
The Dockers have also lost big man Michael Apeness for more than a month due to a knee injury, while dangerous forward Shane Yarran retired in December.
Recruits Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten are set to lead a new-look Freo attack in their club debuts against Geelong this Sunday.
