DEMON defender Harrison Petty is in the frame to take on the Tigers with only main training standing between the versatile tall and a return to play.

Petty missed Melbourne’s win over Adelaide after battling rib soreness and being subbed out of the match in two successive weeks.

“He was just a bit too sore to get up last week, but the plan will be for him to integrate into full training again this week,” club doctor Jacob Jewson said.

“If he can get through full training, he'll be up for selection this week.”

Young Demon Blake Howes has been dealt an unfortunate blow, with the second-year player scheduled to undergo surgery this week.

“He had some wrist soreness last week and had some scans on that wrist, which actually showed an old scaphoid fracture,” Jewson said.

“That had probably been there for quite some time that had just never shown up.

“He now needs surgery on that to fix that, and that'll be done tomorrow.”

Defender Daniel Turner is on the comeback trail from his own scaphoid surgery.

“Daniel's going really well. He's increasing his reconditioning,” Jewson says.

“He's essentially just not able to do contact with that scaphoid injury as he's returning from surgery. Otherwise he's flying on the track at the moment.”

Clayton Oliver is now two to three weeks from a return to play as his hamstring rehabilitation continues.

“He's integrating back into some training now and looking pretty good and he'll continue to progress across the next little while into full training.”

Tom McDonald has a similar timeline to return as he works back from ankle surgery.

“He's increasing his volume running over the next little while and also increasing his agility, so he'll continue to progress that,” Jewson says.

The end of a long stint on the sidelines is now in sight for rookie Kye Turner as he returns from a groin injury.

“It’s really pleasing news for Kye,” Jewson says.

“He's actually turned a corner in the last few weeks and he's really ramping up his training and looking to get towards full team training over the next few weeks.

“It’s looking really positive for him towards the back end of the year.”

Bayley Fritsch is nearing a return to running after injuring his foot against the Giants in Round 16.

“Bayley has come out of his boot and he's working through his drilling exercise at the moment,” Jewson says.

“He has a couple of strength markers to tick off still before he will get into his running program.”