MELBOURNE midfielder Dom Tyson will play a VFL practice match next week as he aims to be picked in the round one side to face St Kilda on Saturday, March 25 after overcoming a knee injury.
Tyson, 23, partially dislocated the patella tendon in his knee during a two-day military camp before Christmas.
He returned against West Coast last Thursday and notched up 24 disposals while playing two-thirds of the game.
Tyson told melbournefc.com.au he was hopeful of being selected for the season-opener.
"I've got to have a few chats with the coaches and review this game and then obviously get through the Casey game first and see how we go there," Tyson said
"I'm hopeful, without writing my name in pen just yet."
Tyson was back running within three weeks of the injury. He said the knee did not bother him against the Eagles.
"I didn't really feel my knee out there at all. I felt physically fine," he said.
"Just a little bit of touch and composure with the footy (was missing), which will come."
Tyson finished fourth in the club's best and fairest last year, with Jack Viney taking out the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal.